How to Enjoy Life

Do you want to live a happy life? If you say "Yes" like most people do, then it's important to learn how to enjoy life.

Many people today struggle with this thought "How to enjoy life," but only a few spend the time to seek out what life is all about. To enjoy life is to have an understanding of what one's purpose is in the earth and to translate that into daily activities.

Some people may think that they can only enjoy life when they already have a successful career and a lot of money. But it is important to note that "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Lk. 12:15 KJV). You can enjoy your life where you are with what you already have.

Joy is commonly a group expression, often associated with dancing (Ps. 96:11) or the blessings of prosperity (Isa. 60:15). However, Galatians 5:22 tell us that JOY comes from the Holy Spirit.

Here are two essentials to live a happy life.

1. Be grateful for the things that you have and the people that God placed in your life; "Remember no man is an island." No matter how much or how little you have accomplished, if you don’t learn to be grateful you will always see things negatively.
2. Always see God as your source, never put confidence in man. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (that you desire) shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
   

Finally, be conscious how you treat others.

• Sympathize with each other.
• Love each other as brothers and sisters.
• Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
• Don’t repay evil for evil.
• Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.

Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,

1. Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
2. Turn away from evil and do good.
3. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil.”

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.

Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.

So He went and preached to the spirits in prison—those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

Here is what the Psalmist had to say about Joy:
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psa. 16:11).
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psa. 30:5).
"Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart" (Psa. 32:11).

Enjoy this selection from Hillsong "Exceeding Joy."

Remember when things appear to be going in the wrong direction, that the JOY of the Lord is your strength.

Jesus is the Balm in Gilead

Have you ever had a heart so broken that you knew you would never be the same? The one who created that heart has the power to mend it and make you new. He can give you the Oil of Joy for mourning, that is the Balm of Gilead - Jesus Christ.

So, dear Friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His Glory when it is revealed to all the world.

So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the Glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for Murder, Stealing, Making Trouble, or Prying into other people's affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.

Praise God for the Privilege of being called by His Name! for the time has come for Judgment, and it must begin with God's Household. And if Judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? Also, "If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?"

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you. (1Peter 4:12-19-NLT)

Now, listen to this song by Richard Smallwood and begin to thank the Lord Jesus for your healing!



Thank God for putting you through the storm and holding your hand through it all. God knows what we can handle, and what we can bare. He will see us through every storm.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2Cor. 5:17).

Be A Blessing

I have good news for you today. The Bible says, "God takes pleasure" in your prosperity. That's right; God wants you to prosper in every area of your life, Body, Soul and Spirit! No matter what your situations are, God wants you delivered, because He loves you and have an awesome plan for your life.

Even though I had read many scriptures revealing God's promise of healing and prosperity for those that walked in obedience to Him, I never realized it was His prayer and wish for my life. When God sent Jesus to the earth to pay the price for our sin, He had our health and prosperity on His mind.

He wants us to help meet the needs of others and He knows that we can't give away what we don't have. We can't:

• Give to spread the gospel or buy food for the hungry when we're broke.
• Go out laying hands on the sick when we're sick.
• Minister joy to others when we're being held captive by depression.

No! we have to be blessed to be a blessing. Listen to this song by William McDowell "I Give Myself Away."



While listening to this song, I felt lost in the presence of GOD, and wished that I could stay there forever. I gave myself away so He can use me, what about you?

If you really want to tap into the riches of God today, make up your mind to be a blessing to others, and before you know it, you'll be receiving more from God than you ever dream.

God will do the same for you if you'll become His servant, if you'll give Him your time, money and your love for those who need it. Become a giver and God will take pleasure in prospering you.

So, "Let the Lord be magnified, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant" (Psalm 35:27).

God, you're worthy to be praised and I give myself away to You, only You. So here I am Lord, use me.

It's Your Love

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love" (1John 4:7-8).

Love is the only thing that really counts in this life, because love is of God. "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal.5:14).

Love is:

• The most Excellent Way (1Cor. 12:31).
• The Bond of Perfection (Col. 3:14).
• The Fulfillment of the Law(Rom. 13:10).

The word of God said that Faith worketh by LOVE. Therefore, I thank my God for the certainty of faith that assures me that nothing shall ever separate me from His love that is in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

I am Confident that neither Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Present things, nor things in the Future will ever be able to separate me from His love.

I declare that Christ will dwell in your heart by Faith so that you will be Rooted and Grounded in His love. That you will be able to comprehend with all saints the Height, Depth, Breadth, and Length of His Love.

That you will know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.


Prayer:
Father, You commended Your love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Your amazing love for us was manifested when you sent your only begotten Son into the world so that we would be able to live through Him.

Lord this is true love, not that we first loved You, but that You loved us first, and You did not hesitate to sent your Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. Therefore we will love others as You love us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love is the glue that holds us to God, and it is the glue that holds us to each other. Now, enjoy this rendition of "No Greater Love" by Fred Hammond from the "Free To Worship" DVD.

.

Leaving the Pain Behind

Have you ever tried to forgive someone and found you simply couldn't do it? You have cried and prayed about it and ask God to help you, but those old feelings of resentment just failed to go away.

You can put an end to those kinds of failures in the future by basing your forgiveness on Faith rather than feelings. True forgiveness does not have anything to do with how we feel. It's an act of the will and is based on obedience to God and on Faith in Him.

We are to forgive others as God forgives us (Eph. 4:32). To release others from guilt permanently and unconditionally we are to purposely refuse to keep record of the wrongs that we have suffered.

As we do that, something supernatural will happen within us. The pain once caused by that incident will disappear. The power of God will wash away the effects of it and we'll be able to leave it behind us once and for all. Listen to Kevin Levar as he sings "I want a heart that forgives."



When we forgive others we receive God's healing. Therefore, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesian 4:31-32). Let it GO! Yes let it Go.

A Fresh Touch

How can you say, "We are wise because we have the word of the LORD," when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?

These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness,for they have rejected the word of the LORD. Are they so wise after all?

I will give their wives to others and their farms to strangers. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds.

They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.

Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all—they don't even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them, says the LORD.

We need a fresh touch from God. Yes, we need His Holy Spirit to rain down on us, to rain down in our heart. Holy Spirit rain down!




We need the Holy Spirit in our lives every single day!!!! Without Him we can do nothing; for we will receive power when the Holy Spirit take up possession in our lives. We will receive power to live victorious lives. Come Holy Spirit let us feel your touch again.

No Greater Love

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

A friend is one of the greatest blessings on earth, yet real friends are rare. Many will befriend you in times of prosperity, but few will stay with you when you are sick, helpless and poor.

Above all, there are few friends who will care for your soul. But I want to recommend a real Friend to you. He is "a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

He is ready to be your friend in time and eternity. The friend I want you to know is the Lord Jesus Christ. You will be a truly happy person if He is you chief Friend!!

To really understand what Christ did for us on Calvary we have to see love demonstrated. God could have washed away our sins just by saying you're forgiven, but he chose to SHOW his love to us by manifesting Himself in flesh (Christ), died on Calvary's cross, having shed His blood to cleanse us from our sins.

Do you have a Personal Relationship with God? Today you can be in right relationship with Him.

God Loves You and Have An Awesome Plan for Your Life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16 But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

In God's Sight All Are Sinners.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. ~ Romans 3:10

God's Remedy for Sin is Simple
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. ~ John 1:12

Do you know what God wants you to do more than anything else today? He wants you to fellowship with Him.

Finding Hope

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some men count slackness:
but is longsuffering to usward,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance" (2Peter 3:9).

Hope of eternal life begins with Repentance. To repent is to alter one's way of looking at life, and this alters one's behavior. We therefore take God's point of view instead of our own. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19).

Let us listen to this song "At the Cross I Bow My Knees."

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of your understanding concerning confession and believing. Let us examine what the Holy Scriptures have to say about this matter.

Romans 10:9-10 says: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." I John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When we confess our sins to God, we are agreeing with Him that what we did, said or thought was wrong. When we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are in agreement with Him that we need a Savior and that we cannot handle things on our own.

Believe means to trust in, rely upon and adhere (obey) to what the Word of God says. The Lord wants us to put ALL of our trust in Him, to rely upon Him for EVERYTHING and to obey what He tells us. This is for our benefit because when we do these things, He will bless us for His glory.

A Prayer from Psalm 51.

51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Now, thank the Lord, who gives you joy, because the heavy burden of sin, guilt and shame has been lifted.

Let The Redeemed OF The Lord Say So!

Salvation is a FREE gift to us from God through his Grace, and Mercy. We can’t earn it, no matter what we do. "It is by grace that we are been saved, through faith—and this is not by our works, it is the gift of God to prevent us from boasting" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The word of God said that we were created for good works (Ephesians 2:10), but good works cannot save us. Paul says, if salvation could be achieved by law-keeping, then Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

Grace is the heart of the gospel: We are saved by God’s gift, not by our works. The gospel is "the message of his grace" (Acts 14:3; 20:24). "It is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved" (Acts 15:11). "We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

We would be hopelessly in sin and condemnation, except for grace. Grace does not give us permission to sin, but grace is given to us when we sin (Romans 6:15; 1 John 1:9). Therefore, whatever good works we do, we should thank God for doing them in us (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13).

God "has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace" (2 Timothy 1:9). Also, "He saved us, not because of righteous things that we had done, but because of his mercy" (Titus 3:5).

Our salvation depends on what Christ has done. If you are redeemed you have a testimony to give. You can speak about the "goodness and mercy of the Lord." "Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So" (Ps. 107:2).




What is the purpose of living as Salt and Light in the world if we don't share our faith? "Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So" (Ps. 107:2). We are the Redeemed and our "Say So" is our testimony of thankfulness to the Lord. It's time for the Redeemed of the Lord Rise up and "Say So!"

God's By Your Side

God's faithfulness is proclaimed throughout the entire book of Psalms. Just one example is Psalms chapter 117 - "Praise the LORD, all you nations, extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD."

Let's look at the following ways that God's word refers to His faithfulness in different areas of our life. Maybe we can then get a better understanding of what faithfulness is all about.

1. In our salvation - "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." I Corinthians 1: 8-9
2. In the deliverance from temptation - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10: 13
3. In our sanctification - "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." I Thessalonians 5: 23-24
4. In forgiving us and cleansing us from sin - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1: 9
5. In our suffering - "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." I Peter 4: 19
6. In eternal life - "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10: 23

Allow God's Spirit to move into all areas of your life so that faithfulness becomes a way of life for you. People around you will then be able to see the love of God through your faithful living.

Listen to this amazing song about the awesomeness of our God and His faithful love towards us. He's by your side!

Every time I listen to this song it ministers to me. It reminds me of all the wonderful things that Jesus did for us and knowing that He will never let go of us because He'll always be by our side.

I Worship You With All of Me

It's hard sometimes, when we battle with our past insecurities and breaking through all the things that hinders total surrender.

Yet, I am resolved to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily beset us so that I can worship the Lord with all of me, even though the flesh keeps getting in the way.

I guess that's why I must give Him myself daily! The word of God assures me that I can do all things through Christ! I have to believe He is able to keep that which I commit to Him daily. Therefore Lord, I worship you with all of me!!!

It pleases God when we give to Him all that we are and have. This is our reasonable service, a sacrifice that is truly reasonable in light of all God's mercies to us. Truly, giving our bodies, souls, spirits, and possessions to the Lord is the least for us.

Hope Anticipates

"For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth" (Psalm 71:5).

God has made many promises to us. Faith believes His Promises. Hope Anticipates the fulfillment of His promises, and patience quietly awaits the results. Faith, hope, and patience are core dimensions of praying God's promises.

Hope, like faith, sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. We cannot live without hope, because hope is the anchor of the soul, the stimulus to action, and the incentive to achievement.

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark, and it is putting faith to work when doubting might seem to be easier. Life with Christ is an endless hope, but life without Him leads to a hopeless end.

Charles L. Allen reminds us, "When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God." With God, there are no hopeless situations or hopeless people.

Lord You give me hope, therefore, I will no longer have to experience sadness or disquietude in any form. I will ever hope in you, O God. I will always praise you, because you are the health of my countenance, and you are my God.

For Every Mountain ( Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir)

This year has been very challenging, but my faith in God has gone to a higher level, and I'm continuing to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of that, I’m grateful to God and more confident that He'll make it happen for me.

Hence, I've got so much to thank God for... So many wonderful blessings and so many open doors.... Even more than this, thank you Lord God Almighty for being who You are.



I've got so much to thank God for
So many blessings and so many open doors
A brand new mercy
Along with each new day
That's why I praise You
For this I give you praise

Chorus
For waking me up this morning
That's why I praise You
For starting me on my way
That's why I praise You
For letting me see the sunlight of a brand new day
A brand new mercy along with each new day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise

For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you've seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah for this I give you praise

That's My King - Do You Know Him?

For the Glory of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords Do You Know Him? Rev S.M. Lockridge



Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. I wonder if you know Him?

Faith Works

Believing and receiving all of God's promises is, after salvation, the most essential step we must take in learning how to pray the promises.

Faith is the key ingredient for, as the scriptures tell us, "without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). It is impossible to please God without faith.

When we come to Him in prayer, we must believe in Him, and we must also believe that He is ready to reward our Faith. Jesus said, " ...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matt. 6:8).

This promise, along with the one we find in Philippians 4:19. "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his richest in glory by Christ Jesus," show us that God knows our needs and He will meet our needs. Our heavenly Father wants to bless us!

As we learn to pray God's promises we must remember: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

Praying the promises becomes effective when we pray with faith. Look at what Jesus said:

• "If ye have FAITH as a grain of Mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove..." (Matt. 17:20)
• "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:22-24)
• "The prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." (James 5:15)
  

These prayer promises are directly from the lips of our Master, Jesus Christ. Notice how He elevates the powerful role of faith in prayer.

According to our Savior, nothing is impossible to a person of Faith. If we believe the promises of God when we pray them, Jesus says that we shall receive them. Indeed, all things are possible to a believer who trusts the promises of God. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2Cor. 5:7).

Don't Look Back—Face Forward

"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back,

is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

The context is the challenge Jesus offers to one who wants to follow Him but first wants to say goodbye to home, family and friends.

Jesus is saying that the Kingdom isn't for "looking backers." The Kingdom is for those moving ahead.

This being "a spiritual exhortation for the hour" is the Lord's way of telling us to look ahead, not backward. I know people, perhaps you do too, who live their lives in the past. They live in regret, often sighing (as the one in Frost's poem) about choices they made.

"What would life have been like if I had chosen the other path?" They live in long-finished successes or failures, past relationships now broken or gone, finances lost or squandered. They long for "the good old days."

The Lord is encouraging us to face forward, not backward. Read more from the Elijah List...

Can You Reach My Friend

Do you have a friend that is on the road to nowhere, and you've been praying he'll get to know God before it's too late?

Be encouraged God hears your prayer and He will reach your friend. Just don't give up praying, because God is faithful and in His time will answer you.

Remember, Prayer can reach him quicker than you can.

Keep the Faith!!! It will work out in time.

LORD I SURRENDER ALL OF ME!!!!

This Mighty Woman of God is nothing short of Amazing!

This song just causes you to surrender all to the Lord Jesus Christ. I like the part that says, "When this life is through and I stand before you Lord, all the things that seem important won't matter any more, so mold me in your hands, into a vessel you can use."

The things of this world that we think are important and we hold so dear to us, are only going to last for a while, but only what is done for Christ in this world, is going to matter when this life is over and we stand before him.

Therefore, I determined to leave those things behind and press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God. Listen to Helen Baylor as she sings "All of Me."

Victory Battlecry - A confession of faith in Christ!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1Cor. 15:57-58).

I come not to bring peace, but a sword." - Jesus Christ

The victory is already ours because of the cross of Calvary. It is a complete and total victory over sin, satan, evil in all its forms, and death. Paul wrote, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1Cor. 15:54).

We appropriate this supernatural victory through faith. The Bible says, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God?" (1John 5:4-5).

On the cross Jesus cried, "It is finish!" and this secured an eternal victory for all of those who place their faith in Him. Through faith, self-discipline, and the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to tap into vast resources of moral and spiritual power which make us victors, not victims. Allelujah!

I SERVE A GREAT KING!!!!

The Second Coming of Christ

"Looking for that Blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

Jesus is coming again! He promises, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). Paul explains the second coming of Christ as follows: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1Thess. 4:16-17).

Paul then concludes, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1Thess. 4:18). There is great comfort to be found in the knowledge of the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior. The truth of His promise to return keeps our hearts from being troubled and afraid (John 4:1).

Where is the promise of His coming? The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night... " (2Pet. 3:4, 8-10).

Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly" (Rev. 22:20). "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus shall come again.I look forward to that blessed day when I will put on incorruption and immortality, because death has been swallowed up in victory. Praise the Lord!

Watch The Second Coming of Christ, By Pastor Mark Blitz -
Prophecy in the News

Paul Cox's Prayer to Remove the Roots of Rebellion

Prayer to Remove the Roots of Rebellion

Here is the prayer we constructed:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I repent for all generational idolatry.

I repent for all personal and generational rebellion, stubbornness, and disobedience that has contributed to witchcraft in my life and in my generational line.

I repent for all envy and jealousy of the mind, physical bodies, and personalities of others.

I repent for any worship of myself and any need of personal recognition.

I repent for all envy and jealousy of the spiritual giftings and capacities of others.

I repent for myself and for those in my generational line who did not guard the gates of the spiritual and physical senses.

I repent for choosing my will above the will of the Lord.

I choose to owe no one anything, but to love one another.

I choose to cast off the work of darkness and to put on the armor of Light, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust.

I choose to walk only according to the grace and anointing God has given to me.

I choose to walk in unity with my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I choose to follow Christ, living a life of love, preferring others above myself.

I choose to yield and surrender my personal rights so that I might serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

I choose to be devoted to one another in brotherly love and to honor one another above myself.

I will never be lacking in zeal, but will keep my spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. I will be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

I will share with God's people who are in need. I will practice hospitality. I will bless those who persecute me. I will rejoice with those who rejoice and will mourn with those who mourn. I will live in harmony with other Believers.

I will not be proud, but I will associate with people of low position. I will not be conceited. I will not repay evil for evil. I will have regard for the good things in sight of all men. I will live at peace with everyone. I will not take revenge on others.

Lord, please now remove all ungodly spiritual beings and devices that have been empowered by my idolatry, rebellion, and jealousy and the idolatry, rebellion and jealousy of my ancestors.

Lord, will You please disconnect me from any evil network and I break all ungodly ties between the abode of the enemy and myself.

Lord, please remove the generational tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Lord, please break the cords of death that entangle me, the torrents of destruction that overwhelm me, the cords of Sheol that are coiled around me, and the snares of death that confront me.

Lord, I now take back any godly anointing, energy, authority, finances, and health given away and perverted because of my sin and my ancestors' sin.

Lord, will You set me as a seal upon Your heart, and as a seal upon Your arm, for Your Love is stronger than death.

I declare that You Lord Jesus Christ is the head and He is Lord over all.

This prayer is based on Genesis 2, Deuteronomy 4:15-20, I Samuel 15:23, Psalm 18, Ezekiel 8:1-6, John 17, Romans 12:3,10-19, Romans 13, Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 4:12-13.

Dr. Paul L. Cox
Aslan's Place
Email: office@aslansplace.com

Paul Cox Speaks on Rebellion and Witchcraft

Rebellion and Witchcraft

In a remarkable passage, Samuel expands our understanding of witchcraft. Saul once again was disobedient to the will of the Lord. Because Saul has not obeyed the Lord in eliminating all of the sheep, Samuel has some words to say to Saul!

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."—1 Samuel 15:22-23

So, witchcraft is the same as rebellion. But how? Rebellion is "opposition to one in authority." The Hebrew word mâriy is derived from the word marah meaning "to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against."

The word is most used in terms of "rebellion" against the ways commanded by God. What, then, is the connection between witchcraft and rebellion? Over the years, I have read several explanations of why witchcraft is the same as rebellion. Frankly, the explanations, although interesting, have not been satisfying. The Lord was about to show us something new.

Further revelation was to come. After showing many different schools what the Lord had shown me, I thought, "If indeed someone is stealing anointing from us and shifting it into witchcraft, then who is that "someone?" As I felt under the flow of witchcraft, I was surprised that indeed I did feel something. As I felt the spiritual outline of that entity, I realized it was a "spiritual force."

Spiritual forces are mentioned in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

It is my belief that these beings are in some way "inter dimensional" because Scripture tells us that they war in "heavenly places." I sense these fallen "spiritual forces" pervert the anointing of the Lord, corrupting that anointing and changing it into witchcraft.

A full day of discussion had taken place. The prayer was written and we prayed the prayer. I waited to see a difference, but there was no change. Had we missed the mark? As I went to bed that night, the ringing was still continuing. Could I live like this? As I escaped my sleep the next morning, I was aware there was something different. There was no more ringing. The prayer had worked!

Paul Cox Speaks on Divination

Divination

By definition, witchcraft or divination is the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by the interpretation of "omens" or by the aid of supernatural powers. The word is first used in the Bible in Genesis 44:5, when Joseph sent his steward to retrieve the cup Joseph had planted in Benjamin's sack. The steward is told to say to Joseph's brothers that the cup was used for divination.

The New Bible Dictionary defines this Biblical word "divination" as the attempt to discern events that are distant in time or space, and that consequently cannot be perceived by normal means. It is possible that the word can have a "righteous" sense as one might speak of a prophet having clairvoyant gifts without thereby approving all forms of clairvoyance. Except in these rare contexts, divination and witchcraft are strictly condemned by Scripture.

Magic and divination are an attempt to find out information from superhuman powers. More precisely, magic is used to compel a god to do what one wishes and divination is used to secure information about issues and events that are not readily known to the person who practices this art. The word magic is derived from the word "magus," a priestly class in ancient Persia. In magic, it is believed that one can get in touch with the "gods" and these "gods" can be influenced to bring benefit to the magician or diviner.

Divination can be divided into two categories, internal and mechanical. The internal would consist of a trance like state of a shaman. The mechanical nature of witchcraft would include material objects like such as sand, entrails of a sacrifice, or tea-leaves. The Bible mentions several types of witchcraft or divination.

• Rhabdomancy—Sticks or arrows thrown into the air and omens were deduced from their position when they fell. Hosea 4:12, Ezekiel 21:21.

• Hepatoscopy—Examination of the liver or other entrails of a sacrifice were supposed to give guidance. Probably shapes and markings were classified, and the priest interpreted them. Ezekiel. 21:21.

• Teraphim—Images of dead ancestors were used to predict the future, which is a form of spiritualism. 1 Samuel 15:23, Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2.

• Necromancy—Necromancy is getting information from the dead. Deuteronomy 18:11, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 1 Samuel 28:8, 2 Kings 21:6, 1 Chronicles 10:13, and Isaiah 8:19–20.

• Astrology—Astrology was making predictions based on the position of the sun, moon, and planets in relation to the zodiac and to the positions to one another.

• Hydromancy—Hydromancy was seeing "divination" pictures in water. Genesis 44:5, 15

An Interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren

A friend sent this to me...and I just loved it, so I thought I would pass it along. Make sure you read all of it...It did me more good than anything has in a long time! Enjoy...

This is my sermon for the day! Let it minister to you in person, and when it has; endeavor to share with others! You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales.

This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity... We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems:
Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth.

I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life..

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

• First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.

• Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

• Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

• Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves:
Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

• Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
• Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
• Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
• Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
• Every moment, THANK GOD..

I'm A Friend of God

Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends (Ps.15:1-3).

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation.

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.



Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

Since, one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. Then because of this one man Jesus obeyed God, many have been made righteous (Rom. 5:18-19). Therefore, we're the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Interview With God

People often ask the question, "What will heaven be like." Although the Bible discusses heaven, it is not possible to understand the full nature of heaven from a human perspective.

Since heaven is where God lives, it must contain more physical and temporal dimensions than those found in this physical universe that God created.

We cannot imagine, nor can we experience in our current bodies, what these extra dimensions might be like. Even so, we are given enough information in the Holy Bible to understand many of the things that will be different in heaven compared to our lives today.

Here are some images from space and words of inspiration that comes in a message of faith for everyone.



Trusting that your were richly blessed.

He's Able

One of God’s names tells us that He is able to do whatever He pleases, a name He first revealed to Abraham. He had promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation, and naturally Abraham needed a son in order for that promise to come true. He thought Hagar’s child, Ishmael, was to be that son, but God told him that Sarah would bear a son named Isaac through whom the promise would be fulfilled. The whole idea was preposterous.

Abraham was ninety nine years old and Sarah was ninety, and humanly speaking there was no possible way they could have a son. But God helped them to believe it by the way He introduced Himself that day. “Now when Abram was ninety nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless’” (Genesis 17:1).

El Shaddai is God Almighty, the God who can do anything He wants to do, even rejuvenate dead wombs and give babies to couples in their nineties! He is almighty, all-powerful. That name is used forty-seven more times in the Old Testament and never of anyone but God. It has a New Testament equivalent, used ten times, which means literally “to hold all things in one’s power.”

Scripture is punctuated with references to God’s omnipotence from beginning to end. He is the Lord strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8). Power belongs to Him (Psalm 62:11). “Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength” (Psalm 147:5). He wants us to know Him as the God who is able to do anything. He' able!

"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

The Bible

The Bible consists of sixty-six books that were written over a period of more than a thousand years by many different men who were guided in their thinking and writing by the Holy Spirit (Peter 1:21).

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of Salvation, the doom of Sinners, and the happiness of Believers.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

• Read it to be wise,
• Believe it to be safe, and
• Practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's Map, the pilgrim's Staff, the pilot's Compass, the soldier's Sword, and the Christian's Charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill:

• The Memory,
• Rule the Heart, and
• Guide the Feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Adopted from:
The Gideons International
2900 Lebanon Road
Nashville, TN 37214

Molded Into The Image Of Jesus

As a believer, we're destined to be molded into the image of Jesus, to grow in spirit until we look just like Him. God's supernatural power began that process the moment we were born again. We grow up spiritually just like we grow up physically.

What can we do to speed up the process?

We can spend more time pursuing the things of the spirit than we spend pursuing the things of the flesh. We can decide to be more dedicated to the word of God and to fellowship with Him.

We can commit to be willing to pull aside from the busy things of life and get alone with Him, so that He can guide us, teach us and share His likeness with us. If we spend enough time with Him, He is definitely going to rub off on us! His ways will become our ways.

As we make ourselves available to Him by praying in the spirit; worshipping and loving Him, we'll be drawn to people who love His word and live it.

Before we know it, we'll find our character becoming more like His. We'll begin to think like He does, and talk like He does and even act like He does. His image will begin to shine forth in us! Now behold the Lamb of God and receive Him as your Lord and Savior!

An Attitude of Heart - Lord make me over

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).

The Bible says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud" (Prov. 16:18-19). The opposite of pride is humility, and humility is the attitude of heart that comes when we fully recognize our brokenness before God.

"But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" (James 4:6-7, 10).

There is no doubt about it, we need the Lord, now more than ever. Ask Him to create in you a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within you. Resulting in the restoration of the Joy of your salvation. Now, go ahead and do it, He is waiting.

Lord, I know that without you I can do nothing, but through you I can do all things, because you strengthen me. Therefore, I humble myself before your greatness, and I totally submit my life to you. As I draw near to you, I know you are drawing near to me. Thank you Lord, Amen.