Tag: faith

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! 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

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

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Going To Happen In The Transfer!

Job 8:7 NIV ~ “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.”

Right now, it may seem like your life is insignificant, but you just maintain your faithfulness and when you come out on the other end, you will receive your blessings!

The enemy wants you to look at your situation and only see where you are right now, he wants you to get burdened down by things that you have not done yet, or things that you need to work on but are currently lacking the resources to do it. He wants to keep reminding you of what wrong in your life! He wants you to be depressed and distracted, focusing on all things negative instead of the blessings that God has already given you, the blessings that He continues to give you, and the blessings yet to come!

Remember, in His Word, God has promised never to leave you nor forsake you, (Deuteronomy 31:8)! He has sent the Holy Spirit as The Comforter, for you (John 14:26)! And He has given His Angels charge over you (Psalm 91:11-12) to minister to your needs in the supernatural realm! God is removing you from your comfort zones, places that are stunting your growth! God is Relieving you from this place of complacency because if you don’t transfer now, you are never going to be who He created you to be (Jeremiah 1:5)!

It’s going to happen in the Transfer! In this transfer you are going to have to relinquish some things and people! You have got to let go! I know it’s hard, but everyone is not equipped to go where God is taking you. You see when people are not able to draw on the level you have to give, their destiny is hindered and yours can be halted for a minute. It is time for you to let go of anything or anybody that is keeping you from living up to your God given potential and seeing your destiny manifest (2 Corinthians 5:17)! It’s time to release the old and embrace the new!

God has hand-picked you for such a time as this (Matthew 22:14, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”) You have been Graced for where God is taking you! As you read last week’s devotional you are closer than you realize to your breakthrough, you just have to keep pushing, keep plowing, and keep praising and keep praying! The transfer God has for you is going to require you to walk boldly, Joshua 1:9! Put your faith in action and position yourself for the outpour of blessings that are coming your way! For you come from a long line of royalty, act like you know who you are, 1 Peter 2:9!

You have read and maybe experienced some of the things that Job went through, and I know that you saw the end result, Job was blessed with much more than he originally had (and he was already prosperous before God allowed the devil to test him)! Job questioned God, but never doubted or cursed him. Can you say the same thing? In the end, Job continued to thank and praise God, he never waiver in his faith and belief in who God was! I believe that this is how we ought to be. We may not understand why we are going through something, but we should understand that no matter what it is, the Scripture tells us that He will never give us more than we can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13! I also believe that the greater your tests, the greater the testimony and the greater your rewards will be at the end!

Remember, God is making a transfer on your behalf today and your latter days are going to be greater! God is opening a window of blessings in your life and it’s happening in the transfer, you just need to be prepared Job 8:7!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father for the Transfer, the test and the Testimony and the Blessing and Rewards! Father I will remain faithful in this process, for I know that all things will work out for me because You love me! In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Are Stronger Than You Know! So, Don’t Stop Just Keep It Moving!

Job 17:9 NIV ~ “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”

Keep it moving! Remain clean, remain faithful and remain strong, for the suffering that you are enduring right now is temporary, for it is producing in you strength and character! I want you to know that you are not just suffering to be suffering as one would do without hope, you have hope in your risen Savior! 1 Peter 1:3-6! I love this quote by Billy Graham, “For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.”

As a believer and child of God, you have chosen to follow God’s will, even if it means that you might suffer for a little while! As the righteous one, you will hold to His way, for this is to show you that your suffering is producing your strength. You do remember the Apostle Paul, he suffered with a thorn in his flesh, because it was part of God’s journey for his life. He asked God three times to remove that thorn, but God made it clear to him that it was part of His purpose and plan! 2 Cor. 12:7–9! He didn’t move it, but God Graced him to live through it! He’s doing the same thing for you too!

You have to Embrace the Process and see what you are going through, through God’s eyes and perspective. You have to trust the process of God, and you do that by keeping your hands and heart clean before Him. “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23-25! You have to cling to what you know! And you know the Word of God! When it seems like you are going through the hardest test, it’s exactly when your faith in God is needed the most.  It’s during this time that you will be reminded of your hope that you are clinging to in Jesus Christ! In this tough season all you can do is hold fast to what you know, and you know Jesus Christ!

If you have missed anything, just repent and ask God for help you and remember that you serve a faithful and loving God, whose Grace is always sufficient for what you are needing! I want you to be like Paul and accept it and continue serving, even when it’s hard, still serve! God will give you the strength to keep it moving when you trust Him! And be mindful that you are only responsible for your actions, you are not responsible for what anyone else does. Because when you go and stand before Him, it will just be you and Him and you won’t be able to blame anyone else for what you did or didn’t do, you just need to do what God called you to do!

The sooner you realize that God is in control and not you, the better off you will be in life, and just know that what you are going through is temporary, it’s almost over, hang on for a little while longer, He got you! You just stay clean and keep your heart right, (this means keeping your eyes, mouth and mind off it) for your strength lives in focusing on Him! Embrace the good that God has brought through your adversity, for you are strong and getting stronger! So, keep doing the right thing so that you won’t have any regrets, keep moving forward and remember God’s Word above all else, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong! (2 Cor. 12:10)!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Father create in me a clean heart and give me Your Strength and Power to continue moving forward. Father, help me to keep my hands and heart clean and to walk in love in all my ways. Father, I’m standing on Your Word, and I will not waver, I will hold fast to my confession that You are Lord and Savior over my life. Father, I Thank You for Your unchanging Hands, and for always holding me by my hand as I stay the course to the end, for You are faithful and my hope is in You. Father, help me to lean and depend on You and not my own way or understanding but to trust all Your Words and Ways for my life. Father help me to embrace each season that I walk through and know that Your Grace is sufficient! Therefore Father, I will do as Your Word says, I will take pleasure in my infirmities, in my needs, in my persecutions, in my distresses, for Your sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong because You said so, and I believe it and that settles it! In Jesus Christ Marvelous Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! God Is Closer Than You Think! 

Hebrews 13:5b NIV ~ “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Are you feeling all alone in what you are facing?  God is closer than you may think.  He fills heaven and earth; He is not a God who is far away.  He knows every detail of what you are facing and all that is coming down the road and He cares. Yea, I know that it seems hard to believe but God is close to you even when everything around you seems to say otherwise. God isn’t a distant God! You are closer than you think! Jesus is coming back! The truth of God’s here-ness and nearness is punctuated throughout Scripture. 

Though it may seem like God is a million miles away from you, He’s really not, as a matter of fact, He’s closer than you think. He hears your cries, He knows your thoughts, and He sees you right where you’re at. You are loved and noticed by your Heavenly Father. There is nowhere that you can be that your Father isn’t already there first. In Psalm 139:7-10, the Word says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” So, as you can see, He’s always right there! 

The same Word that God gave Moses and Joshua is still true today and it’s for you too, you just have to believe it, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 and Joshua 1:5, He will never ever leave you nor forsake you, Hebrews 13:5b. Have you ever heard this saying before, “when you feel far from God, it’s not God that moved, it was you!” There is nowhere you can go to get away from His presence, and i mean nowhere! Do you want to know how to feel connected to God constantly, practice praising and praying and be ever mindful of His Presence! For it is with a thankful heart that you worship God, and you acknowledge His Presence is in all areas of your life. It’s as simple as one, two, three, you are to dance to the rhythm of God’s rhythm! Pursuing the Presence of God is the constant awareness of His Presence and being attentive to His Will, Way and His Works!

There is no place you can go to get away from God’s Presence. Be thankful for that! Be thankful that He is with you! “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39! In spite of what you are going through, you are not alone! God is closer than you think.  He fills heaven and earth; He is not a God who is far away.  

Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I a God at hand,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?  Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord, “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. He knows every detail of what you are facing and all that is coming down the road and He cares for you. God also knows that there are some lessons that can only be learned through the darkroom experiences and dancing in the rain, and as you go through it, you will learn that those experiences made all the difference in who and what you are called to do! And this verse in Jeremiah sums it up, by letting you know that you couldn’t hide from God even if you wanted to! 

God sees all that you are going through and believe me He cares more than you can possibly imagine!  God’s love for you goes beyond your what you see or hear, or understand because His Word is unchanging, unfailing and unconditional.  May His Grace and Mercy supersede and exceeds your comprehension! God is closer to you and your situation than you think!  He loves you and He cares and if you ask, He will give you all the wisdom and understanding that you need.  The only answers in life that you can fully trust are those you find when you fully rely on God to lead and direct you! Don’t try going it alone! Today, I want to encourage you to embrace His desire to walk with you through all that you face in life whether you are on the mountain top or in the valley, He’s with you in both places and He never misses a step! 

Let’s Pray 

Father, I am so thankful that You are with me today and every day. Open my spiritual eyes to see You, and my ears to hear You and my heart to sense Your Presence at all times. Father, I am so grateful that I don’t have to hide anything from You and that I don’t have to hide my fears, my hurts and or my heartfelt longings from You. Thank You that You welcome me just as I am and You want me to share my heart freely with You, so I don’t have to pretend or be anyone or anything else! Father God, I am so grateful that I am Your child and I know that no matter what happens, my identity as your child will never change. Father, thank You for choosing me and calling me Your royal priesthood! Thank you, Father, for the work that You did on the Cross so that I may an eternal identity. Father thank You for clothing in a new, clean, and pure garment of salvation. Father as I seek to have a closer relationship with You, I will spend time with You and in Your Word so that I can see what’s in Your heart for me and You can see what’s in my heart for You! Father, this day I want nothing more than to have a closer relationship with You and I want my relationship to grow stronger and stronger in You and Your Word, so that I will know without a shadow of a doubt that You are with me and that You never have left me alone and You never will. In the Name of Christ Jesus. Amen!

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Today, I Want You To Learn How To Dance In The Rain!

1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV ~ “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Life is not about waiting for the rain to stop; it’s about learning to dance while it’s raining! No one is exempt from going through the storm and rain! Paul is the perfect idea of going through the storm, Paul was a prisoner, who learned how to dance while he was in the storm and rain, and guess what, this didn’t catch God by surprise, He knew exactly what Paul had to face. God knows exactly what you have to face! Here’s the point, Paul was in this place because God sent him! You are in this place because God is sending you there!

The rain did not catch God by surprise. God knows what He is doing in your life and it’s high time that you pay attention to what He’s doing, on purpose! You are not in this place by accident nor coincidence! God knew that you needed a little rain today! Nothing can grow without being watered! If anyone ever tries to tell you anyone tries to tell you that you are exempt from storms and rain, they are flat out lying to you and the truth is not in them!

Again, I say the rain that is pouring in your life has not taken God by surprise. The bottom line is, God wants you to dance in the rain! He wants you to have a thankful heart no matter what your circumstances you may be facing. The Word of God says to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

I know that it can be hard to thank God when life is hard, when your career is not going like you want, when you get a less than favorable report from the doctor or one of your loved one’s go home to be with the Lord, plus a host of other events and life experiences that are happening all at the same time; I know it seems hard to have a thankful heart in the midst of this, but this is not me nor man telling you to be thankful, but this is God, and He is telling you in His Word to give thanks in and for everything! To dance and sing praises unto Him, for He is Worthy to be praised!

The purpose of your suffering is to prove your true character, and to clear away the dross of sin and to allow the pure nature of Jesus Christ to show itself in and through you. Romans 5:3-5! As a Christians you should expect and prepare for suffering, for the Word of God has told you that there would be trials and tribulations that you have to go through; “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. So you might as well put on your dancing shoes praise and dance your way through the rain, knowing that a brighter day lid ahead of you!

As you learn to dance in the rain, you are going to need to know these four things in order to be triumphant as go through it: (1) you must expect it, (2) you must rejoice in it, (3) you must evaluate its reason and (4) you must entrust it to God! Put all of your trust in Him, acknowledge Him, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6! Don’t think that something strange is happening to you. As Child of the Most-High King, you must not think that what you are going through is something that happening by accident. God allowed it and designed it for your testing, purging, and cleansing process!

When you learn to give thanks in and for everything, it’s all about your obedience, doing what God says to do even though you don’t understand it, you just simply trust Him! This is what it means to give a sacrifice of praise, to thank and praise God when it just doesn’t make sense, but you know that your act of obedience honors God more than anything! The Word tells you in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This is what God meant when He said all things will work out for your good, Romans 8:28! Today, let loose and dance in the rain, for the sun (Son) will shine forth as the bright and morning Glory of God!

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You! Thank You for blessing me with this day! Father, strengthen and guide me and prepare me for whatever may come along my path today. Father, show me how to dance in the rain and to be thankful while I dance! Father, help me to rejoice in the midst of the storm, knowing that this is not my end, but it’s my place of processing and purpose! In this rain I Thank You Father, that Your Joy and peace is my strength and I choose to dance right in the midst of it! Father, I Thank You for each season of rain and the gift of Grace that you gave me to keep going, for I know that it was You that gave me what I needed to endure it and because I was obedient, You blessed me unique blessings that could only come from You! Thank You Father, “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, [12] That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalm 30:11-12 AMP! Thank You for Your Rain, may You Reign in my life forever and ever. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean