Good Morning Sunshine! The Truth Is Made Plain Right Before Your Eyes! Can You See It? 

Romans 1:18-19,25 NIV ~ “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, [19] since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. [25] They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.”

Today, I want you to pull out your Bibles and study the Word of God! Find and write out scriptures on the truth of God’s Word and make sure that you are writing it on your heart, that you may believe the Word of God! Stop worshipping what has been created and not the Creator. 

God has revealed himself plainly in creation to you. Yet you still reject even the basic knowledge of your Creator and follow the creation instead. God has given you all the evidence to believe in Him and how to live a godly life, but since you continue to want your own way, he will not make you choose Him. So, now you have no excuse, you know the truth, and now you will have to endure the consequences of ignoring the truth! 

God has revealed Himself time and time again in you, He has told you about Jesus and how, your sins can be forgiven and forgotten through Him, you can have a personal relationship with the Father. Paul’s states that no one can claim their own work as good in God’s sight, no one, not even you! All people everywhere deserve God’s condemnation for their sin. Just knowing of God is not enough, you must believe that God loves you and that he sent His Son to demonstrate that love on the Cross Romans 5:8 and you must be shown how to accept God’s forgiveness of your sins because He loves you, Romans 10:14-15!

Today, choose to believe the truth, stop substituting a lie for the truth, in order to support your own self-centered way of living. This is sin, and God cannot tolerate sin because He is holy, and has a perfect nature. He has designed the best way for you to live in harmony with Him and with each other. He cannot and will not ignore or condone willful rebellion! God wants to remove the sin and restore the sinners, Romans 3:23! You cannot reject the truth and then turn to Him for salvation, you must repent first! If you persist in going your own way, then you are pursuing the lie that sin is not serious, and you don’t need God? Sinners must trust Christ alone to deliver them from destruction and put them on the path of salvation! Stop deceiving yourself about Him to merely protect your current way of life. Devote yourself to searching for the truth, and you will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13! 

You do not have any excuse for not believing in God? The Bible gives it to you plainly and God has revealed what He is like in and throughout His creation. So, either you are going to accept or reject God. It’s your choice. You do know that what is temporary will disappear right, none of that stuff will last. It’s like the grass that is here today and withers away tomorrow, Isaiah 40:8. Only what’s for and from God is eternal! When the day comes for God to judge your response to Him, there will be no excuses that you can give; for God has given you everything to help you fully believe in Him. Again, you are without excuse! Stop, rejecting the truth! Thank God as the Creator, Keeper and Sustainer! He made everything including you, your parents didn’t create you, they were just the vehicle God used to bring you here! You belong to God!

What have you made into a god? What have you been idolizing? Are you worshipping what God has made rather than God himself? Can you think of anything that you feel you can’t live without? Are any of your priorities greater than following God wholeheartedly? Do you have a dream that you would sacrifice everything to realize? Let me help you right here, to avoid idolatry from taking you over, check your heart! Your heart needs to see God’s Will and God’s Way as the measuring tool in which you evaluate everything that you do! If what you are doing does not measure up to God’s Word and standards you need to rethink it. (You can only learn this through God and His Word!) I am not saying that the other things are not important, it’s just that they are not more important than God. It just means that all of your life is viewed through God’s perspective and not your opinion! 

God has filled this beautiful world with so many wonderful things for you to have and enjoy. But when you don’t have a relationship with Him; you can fall prey to it all and believe in the lies of that you hear that reinforces your own selfish beliefs! Today, more than ever, you need to be careful about the input that you allow to form your beliefs. With the things you hear and see, on the internet, conversations, commercials, music and movies, so much of it is about glorifying sinful lifestyles and values, and sometimes you can find yourself constantly being bombarded by attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Bible! Be mindful about what you hear and look at and what influences you allow to form your opinions. God gave you the Bible as the standard of truth on how to live. Evaluate all other opinions in light of it. If you haven’t already, begin today to give your devotion, attention and worship to Him and believe in His Word, it’s the Living Truth and it will teach you how to truly live in the truth!

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father for the truth of Your Word. Father, open my ears to your Word, so when I hear it spoken aloud, I will receive it with joy. Use it to guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me, Psalm 25:5! Help me to obey your Word so I will fully understand it and be able to move on to maturity in my faith. Thank You Father for the Holy Spirit that helps me to discern and understand Your Word more clearly. Father, put Your Word in me every day so that I will know that I cannot live on bread alone, but by every Word that comes out of your mouth I need, now I can chew on the bread of God’s Word again and again, to get every bit of sustenance out of it. Matthew 4:4! Father, Thank You for ordering all of my steps according to Your Word, Psalm 119:133! Father, thank You for my firm foundation that is found in Your Word, Psalm 119:89! Father, Thank You for Your light on my path that I may walk securely, Psalm 119:105! Father, Thank You for helping me to understand Your Way and Your precepts, for I will meditate on your wondrous works, Psalm 119:27!  Father, incline my heart to Your Word and not to my selfish gain. Keep me on the path for Your Word and not the world. Father, transform me, wash me and cover me in You, Psalm 119:36! Father, turn my eyes away from everything that is not You. Turn me away from looking at worthless things and give me life the way You want me to have. Father, I will set my sight on the treasure and truth of Your Word. Father I know that in Your Word all distractions can be moved, and worthless thoughts can be removed, and my mind will be fixed on what I see in Your Word, Psalm 119:37! Father, cause Your Word to permeate every moment of my day and every corner of my mind. Father, use Your Word to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and to train me in Your righteousness so that I can be completely equipped to do every good work that You have prepared me to do, 2 Timothy 3:16-17! Father, I will embrace the truth of Your Word and I know that Your Word will cover me in all my ways! Father, I believe in You and Your Word! In The Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Can You Believe?

John 5:39-40 AMP ~ “You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; [40] and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

Just Believe! So many people say that they know Bible, but yet they fail to apply His Word to their lives! You say that you know what the Bible teaches, you know what the scripture says and yet you fail to see to that all the Word is pointing towards Jesus! Stop just making Him Lord and not your Savior, He’s both. When you really surrender to God, the Son of God will change your life! Don’t be so involved in practicing religion that you miss the purpose of your faith and that is to follow Jesus Christ.

In this scripture Jesus is talking about how He and God the Father is testifying who He is. The people heard John the Baptist testify about Him, and they saw what Jesus had done, and yet they still were not following Him. You study the scriptures, you know all the verses and prophecies, you know all the rules God stated and yet you are still trying to find life in other things instead of coming to Jesus for the life that you are searching for! Can you not just believe?

Open your heart to receive Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are a revelation of Jesus Himself. He is not hidden in the pages of the Bible; He is revealed in the scriptures. To know God’s written Word is the most important part of your life, but if your knowledge of it doesn’t lead you to the living Word, then you have missed the point. To read it and not see Him in them, this means that your heart is closed towards Him, it means it’s time to repent that you may see!

Times have not changed. So many people go to church Sunday after Sunday, they are a part of the worship team, and study the Bible thoroughly seeking for life and meaning in life. Yet, they do not have a relationship with Jesus, the author of life. The life that you are looking for is found in the life of Jesus Christ! You have to accept and believe in Him! He is the only one that can give you life. Outside of Jesus you are just existing and there is nothing that you can do on your own to earn salvation!

Your good deeds are not enough to earn your salvation! You cannot do it on your own. Stop trying to be good, thinking that’s enough, you will never be good enough for God. You can never earn your salvation. You will never find life outside of Jesus. Everything that you do must be based off of your belief in the salvation that Jesus Christ provided and your relationship with Him. Seek Jesus and you will find life. Jesus did not come to punish or condemn. He came to give life and that abundantly. He is the mercy and love of God to mankind. Knowing the Bible inside and out will not give you life, but the Bible points you to Jesus and your need for Him. Without Jesus all of the Scriptures become pointless, because He is the scriptures revealed to you and me! Just Believe!

Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You for the inspired Scriptures which point me to You! Father, give me wisdom and understanding, that when I read scripture, I read with understanding and that I am guided into all truth by Your Holy Spirit. Keep me from seeking to add or subtract anything from Your Word. Father, I know that eternal life is to be found by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that I am only accepted by You because I am ‘in Christ’ and not because of anything that I could do. Father, I praise Your Holy Name, Father, draw me closer to Jesus as I read the Scriptures, day by day, for revelation of who You are! Father, I believe all of Your Words and I know that they are true! I pray today that I may see You, Jesus as the author of life and finishers of every area of my life; Father thank You again for revealing Yourself to me through Your Words, I believe, and I know that everything that You have purposed in my life will come to pass! In the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! God Is Your Strength!

Isaiah 12:2 ~ “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Have you ever been tired and had to lean against something or someone till you got your strength back to keep moving? Well God knows this, and He is aware of everything that has tried to overwhelm you, He knows when you are weary and weak, He knows when you are in trouble and need relief, and He knows when you need someone to lean on! 

Let Go! Let God! Let it Flow! Just fall into your Father’s Everlasting Arms, He got you! Did you let go? If you did, He caught you, you are safe and secure in His Arms! You do know that His Word says that the whole world is in His Hands, (Psalm 24:1-2) so that should encourage you to know that He can catch and hold you and everything that concerns you! God got you! 

Let the Word of the Lord soak into your mind, heart and spirit that you are His. God created you, formed you, redeemed you, saved you, covers you, delivers you, keeps you, sustains you, protects you, heals you, provides for you, calls you by name and kindles His spirit within you. God has you on every side, you are His and don’t forget it! 

Do you feel any better? God is there to help you, He’s waiting on you to take His hand, He spoke so clearly when He said, “Wait on Him”, He’s coming to renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31) and make you whole, after leaning on God you will be able to stand, walk, run, and not be tired or weary, God is your Leaning Post, To God Be The Glory! 

Lord, when I think about our Father’s Hands and Arms and how He so tenderly catches us with those strong arms, I get excited! We can just lean on our Father and you don’t have to be in a hurry, you can tarry in that place! Deuteronomy 33:27a NIV ~ “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

My grandmother use to sing, I’m leaning on Jesus, and she would tell me one day, by and by that I’m going to understand it. Now in the by and by I got it! “I’m Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” was written by Anthony Johnson Showalter in 1887. 

Here are the lyrics, let’s make this our worship song and prayer today. 

Can’t you hear it, “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. You are Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms!” 

Today, you can just Lean on Your Father and when you do, you will be secure on your right, left, front, back, top and bottom, you are fully secure and can’t no enemy get you out of His Hands! You are secured leaning on your Heavenly Father! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You. Today, I’m leaning on and in Your Everlasting Arms! Father You are my strength and in You lives everything that I need. Father, I am putting all of my trust in You. I just can’t stop thanking you! Father, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You and Thank You! If I had 10,000 tongues it wouldn’t be enough to Thank You for all that You have done, is doing and will do for me. Father, I’m grateful and I want the world to know that I’m going to serve You till the day I die! Father, I know that as I stay in Your Word, I will always be secure in Your Arms! In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

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Good Morning Sunshine! Watch Your Words!

Proverbs 18:21 ~ “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

 God spoke the universe into existence with a Word! So, this should tell you just how important what you say is, it can cause life or death. Never underestimate the power of words, one Word from God can change your life! No longer can you listen to the enemy’s voice; you must know God’s Voice at all times, (John 10:4)! Let God’s Word be adopted into your hearing, and then go to your mind and then into your heart before you act on it. Let your faith be increased that His promises to you are clear, and that you know that you will live and not die declares the Word of the Lord! My desire is that you are so hungry for the Word of God that that is the only thing that will quench your thirst, His Word!

When you recognize that what you say is half the battle, the power is in how you say it and how you receive it. You have a choice every day in what you will and will not say, choose your words carefully, you cannot pick them back up and put them in your mouth again, once they are out, they are out, and you will have to deal with the consequences of what you said and what was said. Are you prepared for that? Words will either build up or tear down, pray before you open your mouth and say that thing that you are thinking, because that thing that you are thinking can be a good intention, but it can also cause you to want to bite your tongue to hold it in or wish you had not said it at all. And just know that you cannot do this on your own, you will need the help of Jesus Christ, for your tongue, on it lives poison and everything evil, James 3:8, “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.”

Be mindful over the words that you say and the words that are spoken over you because it can cause life or death to you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually and God wants you to be free. If someone has spoken a word over you that did not bring life to you or you have spoken a word over someone or yourself, it is time to ask for forgiveness, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession means to own it and accept it! It is time to ask God for forgiveness and then it is time to forgive yourself so that you may be free, to live and not die. God is not looking for an explanation from you or information, He wants you to surrender to Him and His Will, He wants you to agree with Him for what is best for your life and not what you believe, let His forgiveness cleanse you inside and out! Remember that when it comes to prayer, one word can be life changing, and His Word will bring you life and you will have life more abundantly! Exchange your old words for the new Word of God!

Today, I want you to open your mouth and tell God how much you love Him and if you have backslidden or know someone who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, then give them the Word of God, Romans 10:9-10, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Do you see what happened, you opened up your mouth and made a declaration, and your life changed because of the Word of God. Continue speaking His Word over your life and watch what comes to pass, as your life changes!

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Thank You for Your Word! Father, as I start this new year, I want You to fill me to overflow with Your Word and show me how to speak and declare Your Word every day over my life and in those that are connected to my life. Father, I desire to know You better and to be strengthened as I live one day at a time in Your Presence every day. Father, every Word that you have spoken over my life has been life changing. Thank You Father, You changed my language so that my life would change! Father, forgive me for any word that I have said up to this present moment that did not build someone up or even myself, Father, I don’t want to speak words that bring death, but only produce life and I know in order to do this I must stay connected to You and Your Word. Teach me how to pray using Your Words and not my own. Father, I want to live and not die, I can only do this in Your Power, create in me a clean heart, keep my ears covered, my mind protected and my heart clean that I may receive from You daily. Father, I want more of You and Your Word in my life! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Know Your Place! Part 3!

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV ~ “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As I was talking with a lady about yesterday’s devotional, “Know Your Place”, was still in my spirit! So, today let’s look at it from this point of view! The process of duplication! Jesus said that we are to make disciples! Preparing them to do battle in the invisible realm. So how do you do that, by duplicating! By becoming a disciple that can disciple! 

Have you ever been discipled by another believer? Is this how you found out about Jesus Christ? Somebody helped you in the process of coming into your faith. Now after you came to Jesus Christ, did anyone help you grow and become more like Jesus? Or, have you ever been in the one doing the disciplining, helping someone come to into their faith and helping them grow as His disciple? If you answered yes to either one of these questions, then you already know what disciple making! But if you answered no, fear not, for help is on the way! 

Have you ever felt like evangelism and disciple making is someone else’s job, I’ve come to tell you that you are wrong! This is every one’s responsibility! This is not optional! Mark 16:15, “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” God is equipping you and making you a warrior that’s armed and ready for battle! 

This was, and still is, Jesus’ plan to spread the Gospel of God’s kingdom throughout the world, and you and I have a part to play daily! If you are planting oranges, what fruit will come up? Will it be pears or apples? No, it will be more oranges, that’s what you planted and that is what’s going to grow and be produced! Simply put, you are to reproduce yourself by taking them through the same basic teaching and training that Jesus Christ has given you! 

Jesus call you to make disciples! And this is how you are to do it:

First, you must know what a disciple is and the purpose of it! Jesus set the mission in place and gave it to His disciples before He returned to heaven. This mission has never changed it’s been handed down from generation to generation by the faithful, and now the responsibility rests upon you!

Secondly, Jesus’ made the plan simple, one disciple will turn around and make another disciple, who would in turn make another disciple and so on until He returns! Jesus is counting on you to fulfill your assignment, and there is no Plan B! 

Thirdly, you are to be the light and salt! Let the Light that Jesus Christ put on the inside of you, shine bright for all the world to see Matthew 5:14. And then you are to be flavored just right so that you know what to say in season and out of season! Matthew 5:13!

Fourthly, when Judgement Day comes, and your life is on display before your Father. The question will be did you obeyed His command to go and make disciples? Nothing else will matter! 

Following Jesus Christ as a disciple is a true Christian, there is no phony or fake about you. Being a disciple is the process of learning how to become more and more like Jesus Himself. The heart of this process is learning and obey Jesus and in the power of His Holy Spirit! This means that you love Jesus with your whole heart, you know how to serve others and not just those that you like, you can serve anyone, you know how to deny your flesh, you know how to forgive, and you live a Holy and Righteous life! Your foundation is firm and secure, and what you have learned you know how to apply and put it into action by sharing with others, which is the process of duplication, making disciples! 

This last thing that I’m going to say is the most important thing you need to know, and it is provided by Jesus Christ Himself! Philippians 2:10-11! He told His first disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20. The promise of His Presence, the Holy Spirit will remain in full force for all who follow in His footsteps. He will be with you every step of the way as you seek to do the work of making disciples, work that you could never do in your own strength, the process of duplication! 

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father! Father I can’t thank You enough for all that You have done for me! Father, thank You for those that You sent cross my path that spoke Your Word and discipled me. Father, make me over, create in me a clean heart, one that sees You and Your Hand in everything! Father I pray for those that I disciple, that they would receive Your Word and be firmly planted and rooted in it and that they would grow to be mature and fruitful disciples of You! Father, help me to understand that they are Your children too! Father, I pray for Your protection and covering over every step that they make and that they will be guarded against the enemy’s schemes and that they would be surrounded by a community of disciples who can encourage and support them as they grow in faith. Father, Thank You for the privilege of being a part of Your Kingdom work in the lives of others. Father, Thank You for equipping me to be a warrior for You and teaching me how to do battle in the invisible realm! May Your Name forever be Glorified in my life and through the lives of others! And may our witness and testimony to others draw them even closer to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Know Your Place! Part 2!

1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV ~ “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. [11] If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

As I reflected on yesterday’s devotional this thought fell into my spirit. Are you trying to elevate yourself or allowing God to magnify and elevate you? 

Have you been tempted to elevate yourself? You see others that have great influence and power, and you desire it for yourself. So, you try to join in with them hoping that you will have that same influence and you can glean from their authority or get the favor that they have? You have disregarded everything that your Father has told you to do because you want to that belong to that group or person and have their level of authority or position! This authority and position came from God and God alone! Hebrews 12:1 NIV ~ “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Being honored and magnified in the is not a sin, but it’s sinful when you try to covet someone else’s honor. You must be careful to guard your own hearts from elevating yourself above your calling. If you are called to be a disciple, please don’t try to be an Apostle, know your place and stay in your own lane! Be the best disciple that you can be, for it would behoove you to not get in God’s way! When you try to walk in someone else’s path that you don’t belong to, you are inviting unwanted and unnecessary warfare into your life.  You must recognize the authority God has given to you is for and what belongs to someone else belongs to them, stop trying to attain what does not belong to you! 

If you are to be elevated at all, if you receive any spiritual gifts or anointing, it will directly be deposited into you from God, at His command and at His timing according to His perfect Will! Do not come to God seeking honor and glory! It is God who chooses to bless you with honor and glory! It’s His gifts to give or to withhold! Learn to be content with the knowledge that you have been adopted into the family of God and made joint heir to Jesus Christ! Let your focus be on glorifying God, and you will find great peace and contentment with whatever place that you are in and in whatever God has called you to do in your life!

When you let jealous thoughts grow, when you run after the thing’s others have that you want, when you let discontentment tell you that you need more than you have, then you are pursuing the opposite of what Jesus lived and taught you. Then you are trading a life close with Christ for a life close to man’s success and recognition and now you have become just like the Pharisees! God has blessed and entrusted you with the talent, power and spiritual gifts that He wanted you to have to use to glorify Him and build His Kingdom. I know it can be hard sometimes when you look around at others and see what big things that they are doing, and you can feel like what you have to do is small; I want to encourage you that you and your gifts are needed! 

The day, I realized that God didn’t give me my gifts for me, but they were gifts for Him! I repented and asked Him to forgive me, and at that moment my thinking totally shifted. I began to truly see how God had blessed me, and then I began to trust Him with my gifting and value them, no matter how they compare to the gifts or talents of others I began to do the work that He assigned me to do! Your gifts are given to you by God in order to serve those around you. As our scripture today says, you have received a gift from God, and you are required to be a good steward over what He commended you to do! God has called you to use all your gifts and talents to serve others. Fight the lie that someone else’s talents are better than yours! Fight the lie that God can’t use you for His Kingdom! That gift that you love, is meant to bless others. That gift that you are not sure is good enough, it’s meant to bless and serve others! Everything is for God and His Glory!

Take inventory of your life and pray and consider all the things that God has given to you to steward: your gifts, talents, influence, resources, and your abilities, anointing and power are all designed and meant to be used to serve others! Know that when you speak, you do so as the Word of God says! And when you serve, you do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised and glorified through you for Jesus Christ. It’s for His Glory and your good! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank You for loving me pass me! Father, today I lay my heart and my desires out before You. Search my heart, know my thoughts and see if there is any grievous way in me and uproot it out of me. Show me where envy has caused me to pursue more over pursuing You. Father, realign my heart with Your will for my life! Father, I want to be content in You and You alone! Father help me to be a help to others without envying what someone else has. Father I want to serve others because that is what You want me to do. Father, today show me how to give of myself to those around me as I am in ministry, at work, at home and everywhere in between. Father,  I recommit my life to You. Father, everything thing that I am and that I have belongs to You. The most important thing to me is what’s the most important things to You. Father, help  me to live like this day in and day out. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Sunshine! Know Your Place! 

Luke 18:13 NIV ~ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Have you ever been around a bossy person that thought because of their title or position that they were more important than you or the next person? Have you ever heard anyone say, “do you know who I am!?” And if you don’t do what I say I’m going to get you fired or something else worse? It’s at this point that you have to really know who you are! And whose you are in Christ! Look at this parable that Jesus talked about a Pharisee and a tax collector that went to the temple to pray. Which one are you? 

One day, Jesus was talking with some folks who were confident of their own eyes and righteousness, and they looked down on everyone else. Do you know anyone like that? Have you ever done that before? First, He told how the Pharisee had approached the temple with his superior attitude and he was thankful that he wasn’t like those other people. His virtues were of the highest standards, he had no faults. He paid his tithes faithfully; he helped others and knew that he was a good and religious man. began to pray and listing all of the things that he does in his own strength, he believed that since he had done all of these things, it made him righteous and better than but the tax collector.  

Next, Jesus described the tax collector prayed, he stood at a distance, and could not even look up to heaven. He understood who he was and his need for something greater than he, he knew that his own strength could not save him. He knew that he could never measure up to God’s perfection.  So, the tax collector cried from a distance, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He had no sense of entitlement, and he made no excuses to justify himself. (Luke 18:14, I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”) Can you sense the quietness and silence in air as Jesus Himself exalted a tax collector over a Pharisee? What do you think the key word was? Repentant! The tax collector had a repentant heart, he knew that he was not worthy, he asked Jesus to have mercy on a sinner like him, Isaiah 66:2! Jesus exalted him because he knew that his place came from the Grace of God! 

How about you? Do you have a repentant heart? That’s what God loved about David, he knew how to call on the Name of the Lord and repent, Psalm 32 and 51! Knowing who you are causes you to stay grounded because you understand that there’s nothing you can do in your own strength to save yourself. It causes you to come into complete dependence on the Lord. Every day we fall short, (Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God) in our own strength, but your prayer should be, “Lord open my eyes to see who I am?” Open my eyes to see that I am a sinner in need of a Savior and to know that there is nothing I can do on my own! You literally need Jesus Christ to come on the inside of you and you need Him to lead you!

I know that there have been times when you tried to do things in your own strength, only to become frustrated because you were not able to do it like someone else could. You need Jesus and His Holy Spirit. You need to get this in your spirit and in your understanding, you are a sinner saved by grace, (Romans 3:24 “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”) and you need a Savior to always be before you! Because for as long as God allows you to live you will need a Savior to lean on forever instead of trying to be your savior. Repent and turn to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. Hebrews 12:2! 

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father, thank You for showing me the dangers of seeking spiritual entitlement, I repent right now in the Name of Jesus Christ. Father, humble me to know my place in the Your Kingdom. Father, thank You for Your putting Your Word on the inside of me and showing me, me and that I must look at myself and not judge others or think too highly of myself. Father, thank You for saving me when I fall short, thank You for not casting me away, but giving me the opportunity to repent and to turn back to You. Father, when I fall short, please open my eyes to see who I am. Open my eyes to see that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. And that there is no one else like You. Father, I know that I can nothing on our own, but with You I can do all things, Philippians 4:13! Father, I literally need You to come and live on the coming inside of me, I need Your leading and guiding each and every day. Father, it’s Your Spirit that I aim to have in me and all around me to help me to know my place. Father, my prayer is as I go forward, I go with You and an understanding of who I am in You and to know that I am nothing in my own strength or eyes, but that I am justified by You through my faith, and I live a righteous life because of Your Grace and Mercy. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! God Is Your Protector!

Psalm 18:47-49 NIV ~” He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, [48] who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. [49] Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.”

Today, God wants you to know that He is your rescuer from all things! God is your strength, or you can continue to rely on your strength and see where that gets you! Can you really deliver or avenge yourself? After all, you are the one that has to make the choice to let God have His Way in your life! It’s you or God!  Is He your Righteous Judge? All you have to do is trust Him and He will take care of you, for vengeance belongs to Him! God will be exalted above anyone who tries to rise against you! This psalm is almost a duplicate of 2 Samuel 22. It is a song of praise to God for His glorious works and blessings of avenging and deliverance down through the years!

Today, God wants to work out everything on your behalf if you will just turn it over to Him and let Him have His Perfect Way! With this being said, you don’t have to avenge yourself when people hurt you, you don’t have to curse anyone, and don’t have to despise a plan to get even, God has got your back, He is your Avenger, He says that clearly in His Word, “Vengeance is Mine, “says the Lord! Trust and believe it, He’s got you when you turn it over to Him! Romans 12:19!

But out of all the things and people that God has delivered you from, the greatest of them all is from the penalty of sin and death, He  did that when He sent His Son to die on the cross in your place, paying the price for your sins, God saved you from eternal damnation when He rose from the grave, given you His victory and power over the sin in your life! You should thank God, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Why wouldn’t you let God be the Head of your life, who else could avenge and deliver you from others and from yourself?

Romans 12:19 KJV ~ “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” This verse has the power to set you free if you really want to be free! Trust God to take care of those that have hurt and wronged you! The Word of God says that you are to bless those who persecute you and do not repay them back for the evil that they have done to you! Your freedom and peace come from you trusting in Him!

Today, you have matured and grown in God, you have lost your desire to want to get even with those who hurt you, because you are able to pray for them and it shows that you trust God and His Word more than anything else! Now you can let go and relax in Him! Trust God to take care of you no matter what, even if you don’t see how He avenges and covers you, just know that He did it! Trust and believe His promise, Vengeance is the Lord’s and He will repay them!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for avenging me. Father I release every burden and hurt to You right now that I may walk in Your freedom and forgiveness! Please create in me a clean heart and renew Your right Spirit within me. Help me to walk freely in knowing that You are taking care of all things that concern me! Father, I know that You are true to Your Word, and I believe it! Thank You Father for all that you have done! Father, today, I worship and praise You, for You have avenged and delivered me! Thank You Father for my new heart and a new spirit that You have given me as I walk into my new destiny with You! All Praise to God, for You are my Deliverer! In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Be Content In Whatever State You Are In!

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV ~ “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [13] I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Stop! Breathe! Don’t Panic! God is moving! God has shifted you into the position that you are in now and you are moving from the transition to the transformation! God had to shift you from you so that your shift wouldn’t be hindered! God had to shift you so that He could close the wrong doors that you went through, so that your way would be easy as you entered in the right doors! No more going back! He doesn’t want you to go back through those same trials again, and I know you may think this detour has derailed you from His plans for you, but let me tell you, the experience was not wasted, for God uses everything for your good, Romans 8:28!

I know that this shifting may feel like the whole world is falling apart, and looks like whatever could go wrong is happening, it’s one thing after another, these tests and trials will make you feel like you’re being punished for something that you have no idea about! But remember that you are to Embrace the Shift! God sees that you are praying and spending time in your Word, He knows that you have been fasting, paying your tithes, and helping others, He sees your worship, and He knows that you have been waiting, and He knows that you have never stopped serving or sharing the Gospel with others. He knows and sees everything that you are doing, He knows that you are trusting Him!

So don’t panic God is in control, and you are right in the middle of the Shift Change, you are exiting the night place and entering into your day place! God is shifting you into the position that He designed you for and your heart’s desire to align with Him. This season of shifting is not a setback, it’s a setup for the Promise that you prayed for to your Father! You do remember when the children of Israel needed a victory against Jericho, they had to walk around a wall for seven days in silence, (you have got to learn how to be quiet in this season of shifting. Don’t question it, go with the flow of it)! The children could not say a word, and when they day came, they had to shout for the victory, in order for the walls to fall down! It’s during your quiet time that God is refining your shout through your silence Joshua 6:1-5! In this season of your shout needs to be loud and clear, so the depth of your silence is going to determine the depth of your victory!

It’s like this when you have come to the end of yourself, the beginning of the new you can begin, and you can do it! Stop saying that you are waiting on God, He’s already made the provision and He is waiting on you to move. Stop looking for the perfect condition because that’s not going to happen, remember, it’s going to happen in the transfer. It’s going to happen while you are moving. Then you will see clearly when all the dust settles down, you will say to yourself, “If God be for me, who can be against me” (Romans 8:31)! It’s in this moment that you will understand why you had to go through what you went through the trauma, the transfer, the travailing, the transformation and the transition! There is one thing that I have learned, and I want to share it with you, when you are going through the process, when God is Shifting you, keep people who are not going in the same direction as you are on a “Need to Know Basis”! Keep your Shifting and Transition Process Private, keep it to yourself. This is the perfect place and time to practice your silence skills!

Today, God is saying to you in this Shift Change, you must follow all the instructions exactly like He says, as a matter of fact, He is putting a period where you had comma and an exclamation mark where you had a question mark, there will be no bargaining in this transition! All transactions are final! Keep your mouth closed, your hands raised, your heart pure and your knees bent in prayer for the victory has already been established in your favor, you will win this time, you got this! So, learn to be confident and content in whatever state that you are in, because you can do all things through Jesus Christ who loves and strengthens you! Colossians 1:11!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Father, please forgive me for trying to go through things without you, please create in me a clean hear. Father, today I make a conscious decision to Let go and Let God! Thank You for equipping me for this Shift Change, make me ready in every area of my life! Father, I’m ready for this change, I’m tired of going round in circles, I’m ready for the chaos to stop and never return, and I know that I can only do it through You! Father, I Thank You that You are teaching me how to be silent, to change my attitude and that my perception and perspective will align with Your Will for my life that I may live a victorious life! Father, thank You for transforming my mind and cleaning up my vision and hearing concerning my current transition! Father, I trust You, and Your perfect timing to change me during this Shift Change! I will not be moved, nor will I panic, for I can do all things through You Christ Jesus which gives me strength. In the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Embrace The Shift! 

If you can see it, you can believe it! The Shift has caused you to Change, and the Change has caused you to be Transformed in the process! This is a you and God and moment!

Matthew 6:6 MSG ~ “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will Shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

There are three words that I want to focus on today:

  1. The definition of the word Shift means: to change a place, position, or direction for another place, to Change. 
  2. The definition of the word Change means: to give a different position, course, or direction, to make a shift from one position to another, to Transform. 
  3. The word Transform means: to make a shift from one place, to a make radically different Change. 

These three words are connected, they are interchangeable, you cannot do one without the other being present. However, what will manifested from them is different, for each one of you. The Shift is designed to move you and the Change is designed to Transform you, which gives you your Transformation! For there is no way that you can have a true encounter with God and remain your same old self and still be doing the same old thing, (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

It’s time for the Shift! It’s time for the Change! It’s time for the Transformation! You know it yourself; something has got to change! Something has got to give! It can’t keep on going like this! You can’t keep going like this! These two words, Shift and Change were put on my mind 2 years ago and today God brought them back again! Shift Change! Today my sisters and brothers, I heard this clearly last night your Transformation is taking place during the “Shift Change!”

Think about all of the different seasons that you have been through; didn’t you learn more when you were down than when you were up! Seek God and ask Him what you are to learn in the season that you are in? What areas of your life do you still need to change, to shift and to develop in before God can transform you and release you into the next dimension in your life?  God is needing your perspective to change, not your will but Thy Will be done, needs to be your mindset. It’s during this time and transfer that God wants you to count it all joy! (James 1:2) I know you may feel a little uncomfortable with what you are experiencing, it may even be painful, but it is all working together for your good (Romans 8:28)! Growing pains are never pleasant, but you will emerge from this season victorious! Trust the process and keep the faith! 

These shifts and changes are equipping you for the destiny that God has laid out for you, and you cannot circumvent the process; stop trying to go around your wilderness (Psalm 119:71) in fact you should be embracing the shift!  “God is Transforming you in the Shift” and It’s time for you to let go and follow where God wants you to go, it’s Shift Change Time! Think about those that work in plants/hospitals, they have different shifts and the end of their shift, they clock out and someone else clocks in! It’s time for you to clock out of some places and people and clock into your new shift! Don’t worry, if you have missed it before, God is bringing it back to you. So, it doesn’t matter how long it has taken you, you can be assured that God has ordained your next move, you just need faith to push through, your shift is connected to the change that your faith makes today! 

Don’t fear the Shift Change! Surrender to the Change! Trust the Process of God! Have Faith! Go deeper into the place of worship, where the human in you collides with the Holy Spirit in you to bring about God’s desired transformation in you! God never changes, He has never changed His mind or plan (Jeremiah 1:5) for you, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, (Hebrews 13:8)! It’s you that needs the Shift Change for the transformation to take place! This is your year of release! You are getting ready to go to the next level, embrace the Change, go with the flow of the Shift and the Transformation is inevitable! Trust and Believe God! Your focus has Shifted from you to God! Embrace It! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Thank You for shifting me, changing me and transforming me into the person that You desire. Father help me to embrace change with an open heart and give me the flexibility to adapt and the resilience to thrive in my new circumstances. Thank you for the opportunities that change has brought into my life. “God, make me strong and courageous in this new undertaking. Let me not be afraid or discouraged, knowing that as You were with Joshua so you will be with me wherever I go.” Joshua 1:9! Father, give me the desire to embrace the change and to walk in the transformation that You ordained before I was formed, Jeremiah 1:5! Father, thank You for everything, I’m totally sold out to You and Your Way and Will.  “Father God, please grant that whatever I do, whether in word or deed, I may do it wholeheartedly, in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to You through Him.” Colossians 3:23! In the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean