Saturday, March 27, 2010 Print Article
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Let Your Praise Outweigh Your Asking
Bishop Keith Butler
Romans 4:20 - He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (KJV)
God stayed with Abraham until he became strong in faith. Notice that being strong in faith has something that goes with it...to be strong in faith is to give God glory.
Well Abraham is giving God glory. Abraham is saying that he is a father of a great multitude. Sarah isn't pregnant yet. She hasn't gotten pregnant all these years. But he is giving God glory, and calling those things which be not as though they were. He is calling himself a father now; not going to be; but is father of a great multitude, now. And he is thanking God that he is.
Abraham gave God so much glory, that he became fully persuaded that God would perform what He said in His word.
When your praise outweighs your asking, you'll have your manifestation. You need to praise God, not just make confessions of faith. You need to praise Him because you believe the confession is so. Praise Him by saying, "I'm getting stronger everyday. I'm stronger today than I was yesterday, and I thank you for it, Father. I'm stronger in my mind, stronger in my body, stronger in my bones, stronger in every way, than I was yesterday; and thank you for it."
When Abraham followed Gods methodology for faith, he received the promise. Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son.
Now God is going to close the deal on the enemy. His word is in the earth. Jesus is born. Jesus walks the earth, and only says what God says. Jesus only speaks that which the Father tells Him to speak. And that is so important. The need to discipline your mouth cannot be overstated.
Practice saying what the Bible says when the pressure is on. It is so tempting to say the wrong thing when your emotions are high. But you have to deliberately say what God says and couple that with praise. Give God glory by praising Him in the middle of the crisis. Let it be said about you that you are strong in faith because you were able to control your tongue, and your praises outweighed your asking.
Scripture references: John 14:10; James 3:2-3; James 5:12
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word. Click here to browse and purchase MP3 sermons by Bishop Keith Butler!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Praise Your Way to a Breakthrough!
Friday, March 26, 2010 Print Article
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Praise Your Way to a Breakthrough!
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
Do you need God to make a way out of no way? The swiftness and surety of your deliverance starts with how you respond to hard times and difficult situations. Hear me when I say that it is not just enough to thank God and honor Him only when you've received a blessing. God wants you to show the extent of your faithfulness and trust in Him even in the midst of going through a challenge. The power of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough.
Praise is not just clapping your hands or applauding God. It is showing respect, honor, and gratefulness using your whole heart, mind, spirit and body despite your circumstances. Paul and Silas didn't wait until they experienced a breakthrough to praise and thank God. In the midst of difficult circumstances, they praised God and received the breakthrough they desired.
Acts 16:25, 26 (New Living Translation) reveals, "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!"
Paul and Silas praised God even when their backs were bleeding and their feet and hands were in chains. Despite the pain and suffering they were going through, they praised God anyway; and as a result, God shook the very foundations of the prison, setting them free. God will shake the foundation of your prison; your bondage, your problem...if you make a decision to praise and give Him thanks, no matter what.
Praising God should become second-nature for all Believers. "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord" (Psalm 102:18). We were created to praise God, and it becomes a natural expression of your love for the Father when you spend time in the Word and meditate on His goodness.
When you have a heart for God and you know He loves you, your confidence in His ability to deliver you soars. You know help is on the way and you eagerly anticipate it. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (NLT). God doesn't tell you to thank Him for negative circumstances; He says to thank Him while you're in the midst of them. Doing this shows that you trust Him to bring you out.
The storms of life are going to come; but don't let them disturb your peace and affect your thoughts and emotions. This will only move you into self-pity and frustration. Instead, maintain an attitude of praise.
Your first line of defense is the Word of God. Meditate on it and give it life by speaking it over your circumstances. If you need healing meditate on scriptures that reveal God's ability to heal. Receive that Word in your spirit and begin praising God for your healing.
The Word of God declares, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7, NIV).
When you are in a situation and there seems to be no way out, open your mouth and praise the Lord-and don't stop. Instead of crying and complaining, give God praise because you know He has a plan for you that includes deliverance, restoration and peace. Thank Him for His goodness because your praise will stop the enemy and move the hand of God
When your deliverance comes, continue to praise Him because He has more in store for you. Thank Him for breakthrough in your home, on your job and with your children. Through your authority in Jesus, place a demand on your breakthrough and watch God show up in your life in ways you would have never imagined.
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, 25,000 member church in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning "Changing Your World" television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org to learn more. Click here to browse and purchase Books, CDs, and DVDs by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar!
© Creflo Dollar Ministries all rights reserved.
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Praise Your Way to a Breakthrough!
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
Do you need God to make a way out of no way? The swiftness and surety of your deliverance starts with how you respond to hard times and difficult situations. Hear me when I say that it is not just enough to thank God and honor Him only when you've received a blessing. God wants you to show the extent of your faithfulness and trust in Him even in the midst of going through a challenge. The power of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough.
Praise is not just clapping your hands or applauding God. It is showing respect, honor, and gratefulness using your whole heart, mind, spirit and body despite your circumstances. Paul and Silas didn't wait until they experienced a breakthrough to praise and thank God. In the midst of difficult circumstances, they praised God and received the breakthrough they desired.
Acts 16:25, 26 (New Living Translation) reveals, "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!"
Paul and Silas praised God even when their backs were bleeding and their feet and hands were in chains. Despite the pain and suffering they were going through, they praised God anyway; and as a result, God shook the very foundations of the prison, setting them free. God will shake the foundation of your prison; your bondage, your problem...if you make a decision to praise and give Him thanks, no matter what.
Praising God should become second-nature for all Believers. "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord" (Psalm 102:18). We were created to praise God, and it becomes a natural expression of your love for the Father when you spend time in the Word and meditate on His goodness.
When you have a heart for God and you know He loves you, your confidence in His ability to deliver you soars. You know help is on the way and you eagerly anticipate it. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (NLT). God doesn't tell you to thank Him for negative circumstances; He says to thank Him while you're in the midst of them. Doing this shows that you trust Him to bring you out.
The storms of life are going to come; but don't let them disturb your peace and affect your thoughts and emotions. This will only move you into self-pity and frustration. Instead, maintain an attitude of praise.
Your first line of defense is the Word of God. Meditate on it and give it life by speaking it over your circumstances. If you need healing meditate on scriptures that reveal God's ability to heal. Receive that Word in your spirit and begin praising God for your healing.
The Word of God declares, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7, NIV).
When you are in a situation and there seems to be no way out, open your mouth and praise the Lord-and don't stop. Instead of crying and complaining, give God praise because you know He has a plan for you that includes deliverance, restoration and peace. Thank Him for His goodness because your praise will stop the enemy and move the hand of God
When your deliverance comes, continue to praise Him because He has more in store for you. Thank Him for breakthrough in your home, on your job and with your children. Through your authority in Jesus, place a demand on your breakthrough and watch God show up in your life in ways you would have never imagined.
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, 25,000 member church in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning "Changing Your World" television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org to learn more. Click here to browse and purchase Books, CDs, and DVDs by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar!
© Creflo Dollar Ministries all rights reserved.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
2 Bedroom Apt. Available...
Bed-Stuy Bonanza!!!!!!!
*2 Bedroom apartment with an office $1295 a month !!!
• Freshly renovated
• Located on a tree lined block with brownstones on both sides
• Hardwood floors in the living areas
• Bedrooms fully carpeted
• Close to public transportation B15, B43, B52, B46, B26, B25, brisk walk from the A and C trains (J train access via 52 bus)
• Shopping areas in close proximity
There is a credit check, however the $30 fee is waived. The successful candidate(s) will need good references, recent pay stubs and 1 month's rent and 1 month's security. The apartment is available immediately. No pets please
Call Chaka at 917-846-3060 to schedule a viewing
Power Of Prayer
Thursday, March 25, 2010 Print Article
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Power of Praise
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price
The sacrifice of praise is the sacrifice God wants our "holy priesthood" to offer! How do we do that? With our mouths, by making a joyful noise to the Lord, speaking forth His praises, telling forth and extolling God's goodness.
First Peter 2:1 says: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking..."
You cannot praise the Lord and speak evil at the same time. Jesus said you cannot get sweet water and bitter water out of the same fountain. You cannot have evil speaking and praise for the Lord coming out of your mouth at the same time.
The Apostle Paul said that there is nothing unclean of itself (Romans 14:14). He was speaking about ceremonial uncleanness in reference to the Jew. Under the Old Covenant, there were certain animals that were classified as clean and unclean. Unclean animals were never to be used in sacrifices to Jehovah God. It was not that the animals were dirty, it was just a distinction that God made between certain animals.
But Paul said there is nothing unclean of itself, except to that man who thinks it is unclean. All things are made by God and they are to be received with thanksgiving. Let's go back to First Peter, and cover some other things concerning who we are in Christ Jesus.
First Peter 2:6-9: Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
This is why we shout, this is why we clap our hands, because we have been called out of darkness into His light. Many of us, before we were born again, walked in darkness for many years. There wasn't anything to shout about in the dark. But, praise God, we are in the light now, and there is a whole lot to shout about, because we are getting to see all the things we could not see when we were in the dark.
First Peter 2:10: "...who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
There is a two-fold priesthood we are involved in under the New Covenant. First of all, we are a holy priesthood. The holy priesthood offers up spiritual sacrifices and praises. In other words, we extol and tell about the goodness of God. We praise His name, and we give Him honor and glory in verbal ways. Now the royal priesthood, on the other hand, deals with the things concerning God by His Word.
The holy priesthood function is our personal, private extolling and exalting of the Lord. We can also do that publicly, but it is primarily for our personal and private worship. In our royal priesthood function, we extol and present the things of God and the things of Christ through the Word of God--it is the manifestation that comes through the Word.
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org. Click here to browse and purchase MP3 sermons by Dr. Frederick K.C. Price!
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Power of Praise
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price
The sacrifice of praise is the sacrifice God wants our "holy priesthood" to offer! How do we do that? With our mouths, by making a joyful noise to the Lord, speaking forth His praises, telling forth and extolling God's goodness.
First Peter 2:1 says: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking..."
You cannot praise the Lord and speak evil at the same time. Jesus said you cannot get sweet water and bitter water out of the same fountain. You cannot have evil speaking and praise for the Lord coming out of your mouth at the same time.
The Apostle Paul said that there is nothing unclean of itself (Romans 14:14). He was speaking about ceremonial uncleanness in reference to the Jew. Under the Old Covenant, there were certain animals that were classified as clean and unclean. Unclean animals were never to be used in sacrifices to Jehovah God. It was not that the animals were dirty, it was just a distinction that God made between certain animals.
But Paul said there is nothing unclean of itself, except to that man who thinks it is unclean. All things are made by God and they are to be received with thanksgiving. Let's go back to First Peter, and cover some other things concerning who we are in Christ Jesus.
First Peter 2:6-9: Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
This is why we shout, this is why we clap our hands, because we have been called out of darkness into His light. Many of us, before we were born again, walked in darkness for many years. There wasn't anything to shout about in the dark. But, praise God, we are in the light now, and there is a whole lot to shout about, because we are getting to see all the things we could not see when we were in the dark.
First Peter 2:10: "...who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
There is a two-fold priesthood we are involved in under the New Covenant. First of all, we are a holy priesthood. The holy priesthood offers up spiritual sacrifices and praises. In other words, we extol and tell about the goodness of God. We praise His name, and we give Him honor and glory in verbal ways. Now the royal priesthood, on the other hand, deals with the things concerning God by His Word.
The holy priesthood function is our personal, private extolling and exalting of the Lord. We can also do that publicly, but it is primarily for our personal and private worship. In our royal priesthood function, we extol and present the things of God and the things of Christ through the Word of God--it is the manifestation that comes through the Word.
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org. Click here to browse and purchase MP3 sermons by Dr. Frederick K.C. Price!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Vent Up
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Print Article
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Vent Up
Milan Ford
Over the past three to four years, there has perhaps been no other passage of scripture that has helped refine my perspective of God than that of Ecclesiastes 7:13.
"Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?"
Now I have to admit, when I first read that passage, I was slightly confused. I thought for certain that I had read it wrong, or that King Solomon, the man responsible for writing the the book Ecclesiastes, had made some kind of mistake.
Surely he meant to write 'who can make crooked what He (God) has made straight?' What kind of all-knowing, all-powerful God would decide to make something crooked? As I sat there puzzled, I decided to continue on and read the next verse.
"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has APPOINTED the one as well as the other, so that man can find nothing that will come after him." - Ecclesiastes 7:14v.
Let's face it; this is not exactly the kind of scripture you and I tend to post on our refrigerator door or rush to a nearby Christian bookstore to find a bumper sticker of.
Now more than ever before, there is an alarming number of Christians who insist on believing that the sole purpose of God is to fulfill our purposes, and that His sole desire is to fulfill our desires. After years of being presented with a Gospel that is sadly incomplete, many have begun to question whether the God they grew up believing in is really real.
For those of you reading this devotional today that may be currently navigating through a season of doubt in your life, I want you to know that we serve a God who not only designs STRAIGHT paths for our lives, but CROOKED ones as well.
The sooner you and I embrace the fact both PROSPERITY and ADVERSITY are a sign of God's workmanship, the sooner we can use both as a catalyst to draw closer to Him.
One of the best ways we can do just that is to renew our commitment to PRAISE. While we have done a great job limiting its role to just songs of adoration we sing in church, I discovered not long ago that PRAISE is what we have the ability to create...
...when we decide to always VENT UP.
Our natural tendency as human beings when things do not go our way is to either VENT OUT to our family and closest friends for comfort, or to VENT DOWN to those we have influence over, in order to use our pain as a way of rallying others less mature on our side. A very bad decision I might add.
When life seems unbearable, you and I have to make a commitment to VENT UP. When we consistently take our concerns (and complaints) to God, something unique occurs.
Our requests for what WE WANT are exchanged for who HE IS.
When we begin to vent up to God concerning a new job...
...it is not long before we find ourselves praising Him for the job we have.
When we vent up to God concerning more healthy relationships...
...it is not long before we begin praising Him for the ones He has helped us escape from.
Praise has a way of reconnecting our hearts with what is important, giving us the confidence to still look ahead to a brighter tomorrow no matter how difficult the day may be. It is my prayer that we all will fully understand this one simple truth; a truth I had to painfully encounter nearly three years ago:
Here it is: TRAGEDY and WORSHIP are inseparable.
At our lowest of moments, God is still ever present. He is ever faithful. To know Him, is to worship Him. A lesson I am grateful to learn each morning through the power of praise.
Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing North, Milan released his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing in December (2009). You can find Milan rambling and writing at ThePewView.com.
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Vent Up
Milan Ford
Over the past three to four years, there has perhaps been no other passage of scripture that has helped refine my perspective of God than that of Ecclesiastes 7:13.
"Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?"
Now I have to admit, when I first read that passage, I was slightly confused. I thought for certain that I had read it wrong, or that King Solomon, the man responsible for writing the the book Ecclesiastes, had made some kind of mistake.
Surely he meant to write 'who can make crooked what He (God) has made straight?' What kind of all-knowing, all-powerful God would decide to make something crooked? As I sat there puzzled, I decided to continue on and read the next verse.
"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has APPOINTED the one as well as the other, so that man can find nothing that will come after him." - Ecclesiastes 7:14v.
Let's face it; this is not exactly the kind of scripture you and I tend to post on our refrigerator door or rush to a nearby Christian bookstore to find a bumper sticker of.
Now more than ever before, there is an alarming number of Christians who insist on believing that the sole purpose of God is to fulfill our purposes, and that His sole desire is to fulfill our desires. After years of being presented with a Gospel that is sadly incomplete, many have begun to question whether the God they grew up believing in is really real.
For those of you reading this devotional today that may be currently navigating through a season of doubt in your life, I want you to know that we serve a God who not only designs STRAIGHT paths for our lives, but CROOKED ones as well.
The sooner you and I embrace the fact both PROSPERITY and ADVERSITY are a sign of God's workmanship, the sooner we can use both as a catalyst to draw closer to Him.
One of the best ways we can do just that is to renew our commitment to PRAISE. While we have done a great job limiting its role to just songs of adoration we sing in church, I discovered not long ago that PRAISE is what we have the ability to create...
...when we decide to always VENT UP.
Our natural tendency as human beings when things do not go our way is to either VENT OUT to our family and closest friends for comfort, or to VENT DOWN to those we have influence over, in order to use our pain as a way of rallying others less mature on our side. A very bad decision I might add.
When life seems unbearable, you and I have to make a commitment to VENT UP. When we consistently take our concerns (and complaints) to God, something unique occurs.
Our requests for what WE WANT are exchanged for who HE IS.
When we begin to vent up to God concerning a new job...
...it is not long before we find ourselves praising Him for the job we have.
When we vent up to God concerning more healthy relationships...
...it is not long before we begin praising Him for the ones He has helped us escape from.
Praise has a way of reconnecting our hearts with what is important, giving us the confidence to still look ahead to a brighter tomorrow no matter how difficult the day may be. It is my prayer that we all will fully understand this one simple truth; a truth I had to painfully encounter nearly three years ago:
Here it is: TRAGEDY and WORSHIP are inseparable.
At our lowest of moments, God is still ever present. He is ever faithful. To know Him, is to worship Him. A lesson I am grateful to learn each morning through the power of praise.
Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing North, Milan released his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing in December (2009). You can find Milan rambling and writing at ThePewView.com.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Secret Ingredient
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Print Article
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The Secret Ingredient
Pastor Marquis Boone
People of God, adversity comes in many shapes, forms and fashions. Everyone will face adversity, but not everyone will conquer it. The difference between facing and conquering adversity is knowing the secret ingredient. The secret ingredient is powerful; it's a weapon; it's articulate; and it's a producer of victory. This ingredient is called "praise".
For some of us our life is missing the secret ingredient. It is not necessarily because we do not have it, but because we really don't know how powerful it is in making us more than conquers. One of the strangest things about this season of your life is that it seems like it lasting forever. One of the purposes God has for our lives is that we grow to maturity in our praise to Him. I believe that God is trying to get His people to a level of praise where we won't question His doing, but will praise Him regardless of the present. That's why many of us can't sleep at night because God is disturbing your spirit and saying praise Him right in the middle of the situation.
This is why you sit in the car and just go to crying and you don't know why you're crying. God is pressing you. When God calls you to greatness He disturbs your spirit; He disturbs your surroundings; He shakes the very foundation that you stand on and presses you and develops you. However, what He is inserting you into a place where all you can do is pray and praise.
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" Psalms 34:1 (NKJV)
Praise will allow you to see breakthrough in many areas of your life. Having praise in your mouth not only confuses the enemy, but also confuses people around you who know what you are going through. This secret ingredient is so powerful that it becomes a weapon and pulls down strongholds; it casts down arguments; it casts down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and it brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. When you add praise you go from facing adversity to conquering adversity.
Today, add the secret ingredient of praise to every area of your life, continually. No matter how it looks my sister and no matter what they say my brother. Remember, praise will help you become more than a conquerer. Start praising and watch the Lord be magnified in your life. (Psalms 35:27-28)
Pastor Marquis Boone is the Lead Pastor at Fresh Start Church. A church that exists to Re-vive, Re-fresh, Re-lease and to Re-store people. He is the former Youth Pastor of New Mercies Christian Church; as well as the founder of Dream Out Loud, LLC, an organization dedicated to providing young people with practical methods on how to give their dreams an active voice. For more information about Elder Boone, log onto www.dreamoutloudtoday.com or www.therawyouth.com
© Pastor Marquis Boone all rights reserved.
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The Secret Ingredient
Pastor Marquis Boone
People of God, adversity comes in many shapes, forms and fashions. Everyone will face adversity, but not everyone will conquer it. The difference between facing and conquering adversity is knowing the secret ingredient. The secret ingredient is powerful; it's a weapon; it's articulate; and it's a producer of victory. This ingredient is called "praise".
For some of us our life is missing the secret ingredient. It is not necessarily because we do not have it, but because we really don't know how powerful it is in making us more than conquers. One of the strangest things about this season of your life is that it seems like it lasting forever. One of the purposes God has for our lives is that we grow to maturity in our praise to Him. I believe that God is trying to get His people to a level of praise where we won't question His doing, but will praise Him regardless of the present. That's why many of us can't sleep at night because God is disturbing your spirit and saying praise Him right in the middle of the situation.
This is why you sit in the car and just go to crying and you don't know why you're crying. God is pressing you. When God calls you to greatness He disturbs your spirit; He disturbs your surroundings; He shakes the very foundation that you stand on and presses you and develops you. However, what He is inserting you into a place where all you can do is pray and praise.
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" Psalms 34:1 (NKJV)
Praise will allow you to see breakthrough in many areas of your life. Having praise in your mouth not only confuses the enemy, but also confuses people around you who know what you are going through. This secret ingredient is so powerful that it becomes a weapon and pulls down strongholds; it casts down arguments; it casts down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and it brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. When you add praise you go from facing adversity to conquering adversity.
Today, add the secret ingredient of praise to every area of your life, continually. No matter how it looks my sister and no matter what they say my brother. Remember, praise will help you become more than a conquerer. Start praising and watch the Lord be magnified in your life. (Psalms 35:27-28)
Pastor Marquis Boone is the Lead Pastor at Fresh Start Church. A church that exists to Re-vive, Re-fresh, Re-lease and to Re-store people. He is the former Youth Pastor of New Mercies Christian Church; as well as the founder of Dream Out Loud, LLC, an organization dedicated to providing young people with practical methods on how to give their dreams an active voice. For more information about Elder Boone, log onto www.dreamoutloudtoday.com or www.therawyouth.com
© Pastor Marquis Boone all rights reserved.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Why Do I Praise Him?
Tuesday, March 22, 2010 Print Article
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Why Do I Praise Him?
Pastor Marvin Moss
As you begin this new day, take a moment to focus on the question, "Why do I praise Him?"
In this climate of layoffs and economic hardship, it's easy to become focused on the mess in our lives. However, we need to focus on the message that comes through the mess. Through God's loving-kindness and mercies we can turn our turmoil into testimonies. We must know and rest on the fact that regardless of whatever life throws our way, God is there for us, guiding us through.
Probably one of the most difficult things for Christians is to praise him when we are going through the fire; but in life we have to go through the fire to become purified. It's like in Chaka Khan's classic song. She talks about going to the limit, to the wall.... I have a question for you: Are you willing to go through the fire to get to the other side?
1 Peter 1:7 is a great example of going through the fires of life. He reminds us "These trials are only to test your faith... It's (faith) being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.... "This scripture is so relevant to many of us today; many of us who find ourselves going through the fires of life. Think about the trials we face: the job that's about to end; a bad doctor's report; a foreclosure or bankruptcy; a failed relationship.
What I want to remind you today is this: Don't let life or its circumstances pull you away from God or the things of God. What we must focus on in the midst of the trial is not just what's happening to us, but what's happening in us. God is using the heat of the fire to mold us, to shape us and create in us a pure heart and right spirit.
So my sister, my brother, stop wondering if your prayers are being answered. Stop second-guessing God's promises for your life. Don't doubt and give in to the tricks of the enemy. Yes, you may have lost your job. Yes, your situation may have you down. Yes you may have received a poor medical report; but why not change the ending? Yes, you may have lost your job, but God will provide all of your needs. Yes, you may be depressed, but He will be your comforter. Yes you may be sick, but God is a Healer- Jehovah Rophe!
This is why we praise Him! Because despite whatever life throws our way, our God is there to pull us through. We shouldn't just praise God in the good times, because as we all know life is not always a bed of roses. Why do I praise Him? I praise Him because He is so good; because He is faithful; because He always sees me through; because He is my Father; because I love Him.
Instead of concentrating on the negative in your life, thank God for giving you life, health, and strength. Put up the dishes from your pity party; put on the full armor of God; and keep it moving! Encourage yourself in the Lord!
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. In April of 2009, Pastor Moss became one of 58 highly selective inductees into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto www.cascadeumc.org.
© Pastor Marvin Moss all rights reserved.
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Why Do I Praise Him?
Pastor Marvin Moss
As you begin this new day, take a moment to focus on the question, "Why do I praise Him?"
In this climate of layoffs and economic hardship, it's easy to become focused on the mess in our lives. However, we need to focus on the message that comes through the mess. Through God's loving-kindness and mercies we can turn our turmoil into testimonies. We must know and rest on the fact that regardless of whatever life throws our way, God is there for us, guiding us through.
Probably one of the most difficult things for Christians is to praise him when we are going through the fire; but in life we have to go through the fire to become purified. It's like in Chaka Khan's classic song. She talks about going to the limit, to the wall.... I have a question for you: Are you willing to go through the fire to get to the other side?
1 Peter 1:7 is a great example of going through the fires of life. He reminds us "These trials are only to test your faith... It's (faith) being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.... "This scripture is so relevant to many of us today; many of us who find ourselves going through the fires of life. Think about the trials we face: the job that's about to end; a bad doctor's report; a foreclosure or bankruptcy; a failed relationship.
What I want to remind you today is this: Don't let life or its circumstances pull you away from God or the things of God. What we must focus on in the midst of the trial is not just what's happening to us, but what's happening in us. God is using the heat of the fire to mold us, to shape us and create in us a pure heart and right spirit.
So my sister, my brother, stop wondering if your prayers are being answered. Stop second-guessing God's promises for your life. Don't doubt and give in to the tricks of the enemy. Yes, you may have lost your job. Yes, your situation may have you down. Yes you may have received a poor medical report; but why not change the ending? Yes, you may have lost your job, but God will provide all of your needs. Yes, you may be depressed, but He will be your comforter. Yes you may be sick, but God is a Healer- Jehovah Rophe!
This is why we praise Him! Because despite whatever life throws our way, our God is there to pull us through. We shouldn't just praise God in the good times, because as we all know life is not always a bed of roses. Why do I praise Him? I praise Him because He is so good; because He is faithful; because He always sees me through; because He is my Father; because I love Him.
Instead of concentrating on the negative in your life, thank God for giving you life, health, and strength. Put up the dishes from your pity party; put on the full armor of God; and keep it moving! Encourage yourself in the Lord!
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. In April of 2009, Pastor Moss became one of 58 highly selective inductees into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto www.cascadeumc.org.
© Pastor Marvin Moss all rights reserved.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Praise The LORD, Saints!
Sunday, March 21, 2010 Print Article
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Praise The Lord, Saints!
Rhonda Dent
There are many ways to Praise our Lord.
We can praise Him with a hand clap, by kneeling, lifting up our hands, crying or dancing, etc. Praise sets the stage for the spirit of the Lord to be manifested. When we praise we are letting God know that we trust, honor, appreciate and love Him. God loves when we praise Him and loves a sacrificial praise even more so. A sacrificial praise is when we praise Him when we do not feel like it and in spite of our circumstances.
Praise is one of our major weapons in order to live a victorious life. When we refuse to worry or complain and rejoice instead we are positioning ourselves to defeat the enemy. It is easy to give God praise when things are going well, but it takes strong faith to praise in the difficult times.
In most Churches when the Pastor asks for a hand clap of praise, everyone readily offers their hand clap of praise or when the church is in agreement with what the Pastor is saying there is a thunderous applause. Yet, there are many who do not verbally praise God. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His name.
The bible is specifically telling us to open up our mouths and Praise the Lord. In perilous times as these we have to step up our game a notch or two and tap into every resource we have available to break through the strong holds in our lives. God is very pleased with our hand claps of praise, our tears and all the other ways we Worship Him.
I believe that God also expects His children to open up their mouths and verbally praise Him as well. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When God's people cry out to Him it gets His immediate attention. Isn't there something about when our children cry out to us that always get our immediate attention? It is all the more with our Heavenly Father.
I can remember at one point when I thought praising God was solely a private matter. I thought, Praise God, out loud, in front of everyone in church, who me? But now that I know the Power of praise, I can no longer "hold my mule", if I may. I can no longer sit back and be a spectator, I must be a participator. Although I believe that praise is a personal matter I also know that there are times when we should shout to the Lord personally and collectively.
As we allow the Spirit to guide us, the voice of praise will rise up from the depth of our soul and pour out of us like a mighty river. And when the spirit of the Lord is manifested we shall receive power (dunamis) that will strengthen us and allow us to overcome all of our circumstances.
Let us open up our mouths and Praise the Lord, Saints!
Rhonda Herring Dent was born and raised in Goldsboro, N.C. She is a Christian Author and her first book, Ever Changing was published in June 09. A member of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge, VA, Dent now serves as an inspirational speaker that is bringing her message of healing, hope and reconciliation to hurting souls. For more information about Rhonda Dent, log onto www.e-rhonda.net.
© Rhonda Dent all rights reserved.
Leave a Comment
Praise The Lord, Saints!
Rhonda Dent
There are many ways to Praise our Lord.
We can praise Him with a hand clap, by kneeling, lifting up our hands, crying or dancing, etc. Praise sets the stage for the spirit of the Lord to be manifested. When we praise we are letting God know that we trust, honor, appreciate and love Him. God loves when we praise Him and loves a sacrificial praise even more so. A sacrificial praise is when we praise Him when we do not feel like it and in spite of our circumstances.
Praise is one of our major weapons in order to live a victorious life. When we refuse to worry or complain and rejoice instead we are positioning ourselves to defeat the enemy. It is easy to give God praise when things are going well, but it takes strong faith to praise in the difficult times.
In most Churches when the Pastor asks for a hand clap of praise, everyone readily offers their hand clap of praise or when the church is in agreement with what the Pastor is saying there is a thunderous applause. Yet, there are many who do not verbally praise God. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His name.
The bible is specifically telling us to open up our mouths and Praise the Lord. In perilous times as these we have to step up our game a notch or two and tap into every resource we have available to break through the strong holds in our lives. God is very pleased with our hand claps of praise, our tears and all the other ways we Worship Him.
I believe that God also expects His children to open up their mouths and verbally praise Him as well. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When God's people cry out to Him it gets His immediate attention. Isn't there something about when our children cry out to us that always get our immediate attention? It is all the more with our Heavenly Father.
I can remember at one point when I thought praising God was solely a private matter. I thought, Praise God, out loud, in front of everyone in church, who me? But now that I know the Power of praise, I can no longer "hold my mule", if I may. I can no longer sit back and be a spectator, I must be a participator. Although I believe that praise is a personal matter I also know that there are times when we should shout to the Lord personally and collectively.
As we allow the Spirit to guide us, the voice of praise will rise up from the depth of our soul and pour out of us like a mighty river. And when the spirit of the Lord is manifested we shall receive power (dunamis) that will strengthen us and allow us to overcome all of our circumstances.
Let us open up our mouths and Praise the Lord, Saints!
Rhonda Herring Dent was born and raised in Goldsboro, N.C. She is a Christian Author and her first book, Ever Changing was published in June 09. A member of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge, VA, Dent now serves as an inspirational speaker that is bringing her message of healing, hope and reconciliation to hurting souls. For more information about Rhonda Dent, log onto www.e-rhonda.net.
© Rhonda Dent all rights reserved.
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