Motivations

I was thinking today about a song I once heard Shirley Murdock sing; it was called A Dream that Would Not Die.  I often thought of that song when I went through the challenge of Fresh Outlook magazine.  It kept going over and over in my mind, a dream that just won't die.  I know what that feels like.

Do you have a dream in your heart that you just can't shake?  Can you literally see it coming to pass?  If so, God placed that dream there.  He has a plan for your life and those dreams, those aspirations that just won't go away - they are from God.  Those hopes, dreams, longings, aspirations are hints to what you are created to do - they are clues to your future. 

Often we try to push down those kinds of hopes, thinking they could never happen, at least not for us.  However, what we need to do is to recognize those dreams, allow them to stay alive and then ask God to show us a plan to cause them to be a reality and no longer just a dream.

Your dream may be for a business or a career or to write a book or even become a singer - whatever that dream is that God has put on the inside of you - don't let it die.  You may be thinking; my dream is already dead.  If it is a dream God placed in you it will never die.  Our Bible is full of impossible situations - but with God all things are possible.

Perhaps your dream was to have a child and you think you are too old and you are not even married yet, maybe you are thinking it is too late for you.  Let me remind you about Abraham and Sarah - I would guess you are not as old as they were.  Nothing is impossible.

Perhaps you have felt that God told you that you would do great and mighty things and nothing has happened.  Maybe it has even gotten much worse and you think you must have missed God or done something wrong and it will never happen.  Let me remind you about Joseph - the dreamer. 

God had a plan for Joseph and He revealed that plan to Joseph - yet before that dream came to pass, things got worse and worse for Joseph.  But you see, if God gives a dream, regardless of what takes place, that dream will come to pass.

Joseph's mistake was telling his brothers about the dream.  You see, you can't share your dream with just anyone - people will attempt to hinder your dream.  You can save yourself from that dilemma by only telling your dream to the people God leads you to share them with.  Sharing your dreams with someone who doesn't have the vision for it can bring many challenges.  Don't allow challenges or negativity or other people to stop your dreams. 

The Bible says God has a good plan for our future and that plan includes us seeing an expected end - what end do you expect?  God expects a great end - in other words, He expects that dream on the inside of you to come to pass.  But you have to work with Him on it.  You have to allow Him to show you how to cause it to come to pass - if it weren't possible for it to become a reality, God would not have given you the dream in the first place.  Therefore, if it is a God-dream - it shall come to pass.

Speak the word of God over your dream - say only what God says about it.  Water it daily with the word of God.  And then allow God to show you the next step to take toward seeing your dream as a reality.  It is much closer than you think - after all, we do serve the God of the impossible.

I have noticed in the past few weeks a similar thing going on with several of my friends and associates - a shaking.  It seems that in the lives of many Christians right now there is a shaking going on.  God is shaking everything that can be shaken.

This is not something to fear but it is a process to be encouraged about.  If there is a shaking - it is because God is removing everything that would hinder you from walking in the fullness of His blessings in the next level He is taking you to.

It's a little like spring cleaning process, but not exactly.  I know everyone understands spring cleaning, cleaning out all the stuff left over from the cold, dreary season of winter.  But as I see this process of shaking it is a little different from that season in one aspect.

I clean and organize at another season in my life as well - a time that may surprise people.  I clean and organize just before Christmas.  It's a habit I got into while Breanne was little.  You see, at Christmas time, she would get so much new stuff there would be no place to put it and I would find myself having to re-organize just after the holidays.  No one wants to clean after the holidays, you want to stop and rest awhile.  Therefore I began to weed out her toys in November each year.  I would give away what she didn't need and make room for the new stuff in anticipation of what was to come.

That is how I see this purging process - this time of shaking.  It is not a bad thing - it is God cleaning out the things you don't need before the season in which He brings new things into you life - He is simply making room for the new stuff.

Many people see this season begin and they get nervous.  Things start changing.  Perhaps they find they are losing their job or that it is slowing down.  Perhaps they find that people seem to be exiting their lives suddenly.  Perhaps they find that what they thought was a sure thing is now on hold.  If this is you and you are seeing these things - don't fear.  God is simply shaking those things away from your life that are hindering your blessings.  He is making room for the things He has for you.

This is not the time to be discouraged - but to rejoice - it is Christmas in the spirit.  Allow God to make room for what is to come.  Ask Him to show you what to weed out and what to keep.  Ask Him to complete this work in you and to not allow you to hold on to anything that would be a regret later. 

Never hold on to what God is attempting to remove out of fear.  If He is removing it then He only has something better for you.  Trust Him to know what is best for you.  He has a good plan for your future - a plan to prosper you and to bless you - that is what He makes room for during these times of shaking. 

If this is happening in your life, I would encourage you to rejoice and make room.  God is purging all the dead things from your life - for one purpose - to bring forth all the good and new and wonderful things He has for you.  Enjoy the process and trust Him in it, He will not fail you.

As I drove through our neighborhood today, I saw leaves falling everywhere.  It has really surprised me because it is only August and early for the changing of seasons.   I told the Lord 'I see signs of early harvest everywhere.' 

Along the same lines, the other day, Rocky came in the house and said 'I smell harvest.'  You see, harvest has so been in my heart this past week.  It has just been on my mind constantly.  Finally I got all harvest decorations and sat them around the house.  I feel harvest in my spirit. 

I sense it and I see the signs of it everywhere.  I don't recall seeing so many leaves change colors and begin to fall in earlier years.  I also believe that when we acknowledge things like this - they increase in intensity - in other words, as I recognize an early harvest season - it literally calls it forth.

God reminded me of a scripture on Sunday found in 1 Kings 18, Elijah told his servant to hurry and eat and drink for Elijah heard the sound of an abundance of rain.  That scripture has been going over and over in my mind all day 'I hear the sound of an abundance of rain.' 

Since I couldn't get it off my mind, I decided to do a word study.  The word 'sound' in this scripture literally means to call it forth or to call aloud.  Elijah was literally saying 'go ahead and eat and drink for I am calling forth an abundance of rain.'  That was what he did as a prophet - he called things forth.  And we are to be the prophets of our own life - in other words we have to call forth what we want to see happen.

As I am driving around looking at leaves fall, I am saying 'I see all the signs of an early harvest.'  I am literally calling forth an early harvest.

The Bible says that life and death are in the power of our tongue - whether we see the effects of life or death in circumstances will greatly depend on the words that are coming out of our mouth.  What we say - we will see.

Harvest - early harvest is what I am seeing and calling forth with my words.  What are you calling forth with your words today?  What are you feeling in your spirit?  What you are seeing? 

We are people of faith.  But that does not mean that we just sit around and wait on harvest to fall out of the sky - we have responsibility too.  We have to stand on the word of God.  We have to continue to say what God says and we have to be sensitive enough to the spirit that we sense when seasons are changing.

What would happen in the natural if we didn't recognize seasons?  What would happen in the natural if we didn't recognize that it was time to harvest what we had been sowing?  What would happen if we didn't bring in our harvest when it was ripe and ready to be plucked or dug up?  That's easy - our harvest would stay in the field and it would eventually rot and be useless to us.

How foolish would it be to plant and plant and water your seed, then not recognize when it was time to gather the harvest?  Very foolish indeed.

I encourage you today to recognize the season and get busy calling forth your harvest - calling forth your abundance.  Don't stop until you see EVERYTHING that God has promised you.  Have there been times when God said 'if you do this, then I will do that?'  For many of us He has said just that.  You have done your part (if you haven't, do it quickly) now it is time to harvest what you have been faithful and obedient to sow.

You may have sown into your marriage, it's time to harvest.  You may have sown into your children, its harvest time.  You may have sown into your business, harvest, even early harvest is here.  You may have sown into your health or your spiritual walk - it's time to reap a harvest.

Take a deep breath - do you smell harvest?  Look around - do you see signs of early harvest?  If you do, or if you sense anything along those lines, I encourage you to begin to hear the 'sound' of abundance of rain or the 'sound' of abundance of harvest.  Once you hear it, begin to call it forth.  Do like Elijah did, call it forth - as you do, it will get closer and closer and stronger and stronger.  Before you know it, your harvest of abundance will be in your barns and you will be walking in exactly what God has promised you.  Go on, call in your harvest.

It’s easy to say you trust God. It’s not so easy walking it out. If I say I believe I can walk on water, the truth is that I will never know if I am fully persuaded of that belief until I step out of the boat and onto the water, will I? No. 

I can say I trust God with my finances but if I don’t pay my tithe and give as He leads me to, I don’t really trust Him at all. And what if I am tithing and giving offerings and the enemy comes in and attacks my finances? Will I still believe, will I continue to tithe and give and speak the word only, or will I take what belongs to God and pay bills and buy groceries? 

I can say I trust God as my healer. But will I continue to say that if my body were attacked with cancer or pain? You need to know if you are fully persuaded. You need to know if you believe what you are confessing or if they are just words to you. God knows if you really believe or not ~ and the enemy knows if you really believe or not. 

You need to know. How can you know? The only way you can know is to walk through the testing of your faith. If you can stand firm through those kind of tests, then yes, you are fully persuaded. 

We all go through tests and trials, but there is one thing that makes us different, and that is how firmly persuaded we are that we have heard the voice or the word of God. Once we are fully persuaded, it will be evident. In our words, in our heart and especially on our countenance. Have you seen Christians who are ‘believing God’ for something and they look like they have lost everything? That is NOT fully persuaded. If you are fully persuaded, even if you are in the midst of a trial, you shouldn’t look any different than if you just received everything you are believing for. You should praise God the same when you are in the trial as you would when you have come through it. People should not be able to see a difference in your actions or countenance, they should be astounded when you come out and share your testimony. They should say ‘wow, you would have never known they had problems.’ Because you see, if you are really trusting God, we have no problems, we cast that over on him and continue on like we are the victor, which we are. The thing that confuses the enemy the most is when we continue to worship, praise and speak the word of God no matter what he throws at us. And when we continue to walk in peace no matter what, the enemy simply doesn’t know what to do with that. 

Think about Abraham. A mighty man of faith. Walked away from all his comforts simply because God said go. You would have thought that God believed him to be fully persuaded at that point. But the actual test came much later, after he had served God faithfully for many years. After he believed God for his son, Isaac, and saw that promise fulfilled. Imagine that. God gives you a promise, nothing you have asked for, something He offered. Years and years later you see it come to pass, wow! God is awesome, isn’t He? Then, God tells you to give up, lay down that very thing He gave you. Put it on the altar and take a knife to it. Abraham obeyed. Why? Because he was fully persuaded that if God allowed his son to be sacrificed that God would raise him up as well. What did Abraham tell his servants? ‘The lad and I are going to worship and we will return.’ We will return. Abraham was convinced. Fully persuaded. However, he would have never known that unless he was put to the test. 

Have you been put to the test? Are you fully persuaded? Are you still standing on the word the Lord has given you? That word will stand no matter what is going on around you. And this very well may be your final test. Remember Abraham, it was his final test, then God knew and Abraham knew and the enemy knew that Abraham was fully persuaded in what he believed about the God he served. Are you?

Today I heard some news.  The news was not a good report and I didn't like hearing it.  When I heard it, I had a various mix of emotions.  I wanted to call my friend and talk about it, but I didn't feel like I should.  Then I wanted to call my prayer partner and have her pray - again, didn't feel like I should.  So I remained silent.  Silence in adversity is one lesson I have had to learn, especially in situations like this one.
 
Had I called my friend it would have had to have some negative comments - which only plants seeds for destruction.  Had I asked for prayer it would have only been because I didn't really believe what God had said was the outcome of this - in spite of what I heard.  So...I remained silent.
 
I did not complain to God about it or anyone else, just this week I had heard someone make a comment about complaining - he said complaining was evidence of unbelief.  I thought that was a powerful statement so I refused to complain or even talk about it. 
 
Phil. 2:14 tells us to do everything without complaining - complaining is just another way of being negative.  I was pondering on all this and I said out of my mouth, I refuse to have a conversation about this because it would have to include negative talk.  As I said this the Lord responded to me and said 'stay away from negative, it IS the devils playground.' 
 
I know that if I keep my mouth shut until I can say only what the word says that I have stayed out of the devils playground.  That means I can't discuss it with friends or family - I simply have to trust God. 
 
A playground is an arena of operation or activity.  That sounds right doesn't it?  There are only certain places the enemy can operate or become active in our lives and those doors are generally opened up by us.  Many many times that door is opened through being negative or complaining.
 
The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust.  The Bible shows us that even God-pleasing covenant people are thrown in the fire and the lion's den - what sets us apart is our reaction to it.
 
How do you react when you hear bad news?  Do you call all your friends and talk about it?  Do you say 'I can't believe that happened, I thought God would take care of that?'  What do you do? 
 
Do you spend your days complaining about everything and being negative at every conversation?  If you do, you are in the devils playground - his arena of operation and activity - my friend that is no place for you.  Remove yourself by your choice of words and actions.
 
It's time we grow up in the Body of Christ - it's time we believe that God is who He says He is - and if we do that, there will be no room for complaining, grumbling or negative talk.
 
Remember complaining is evidence of unbelief.  Continuing to speak the word in the midst of the fire is evidence of faith.  Which evidence do others see on you?

Today is the Day Of Salvation - Bringing it into the now.

I generally share my life lessons with you in hope that you may choose a different path and perhaps experience the promises of God in your life as quickly as possible.  

Each morning I seek the Lord about this motivation.  It's my desire to give you the fresh meat of the word.  It is also my desire to give you a word in due season that will speak to your heart.  There are so many good things in the word of God that any word would probably be good but God has a particular word for each day and we need to seek Him for it.  We are not supposed to pray the same things over and over.  We are to pray what God gives us and then thank Him for it, knowing it is done and seek Him for new insight the next day.

Many years ago as I was praying one morning, I was saying something like this;  'Lord, I want to be just like You, I want to walk like Jesus walked, I want to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, I want to see the blind eyes opened, I want to be just like Jesus...etc.'  The Lord spoke to my heart and said this:  'Are you always going to be a want a be?'  That statement changed the way I prayed that day and continues to mark how I pray.

While I was praying 'I want to be this and I want to be that.'  Jesus was letting me know that He had gone to the cross and gone through literal hell to enable me to be exactly what I was asking Him to make me.  I already have the ability to be just like Him - I just have to believe it and receive it.  I already have the ability to lay hands on the sick and see them recover - I just have to believe it and receive it.  This leads me to another type of prayer or confession that is incorrect and that is what I want to share with you today.

Are you praying in this manner?  God, I know you are going to bring me through this?  Or God, I know you are going to heal me?  Or, I know my breakthrough is coming.  Or, I know one day this will all be over and things will get better?  This type of praying keeps everything in the future and the Bible says that God is a NOW God.  Everything we have need of is already done.  It's done now.  It's here now.  It is on the inside of us and we have to pull it out.  We do that with our words BUT if we continually put it in the future, there is where it will stay.

Tomorrow never comes - there is always tomorrow.  Going to - never comes, it is always in the future.

The Bible says NOW is the day of salvation, not tomorrow, now.  And salvation includes all you have need of:  healing, peace of mind, direction, prosperity, safety and so much more.  God is saying now is the time - now - today.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine called me and told me something that God had spoken to her in a stern voice - have you ever heard that voice?  I know I have.  He said to her, 'If you can't call things that be not as though they already are AT LEAST keep them in the present.'

What was God saying?  He was saying 'stop putting things in the future - declare they are done now.'  Instead of praying 'Lord, deliver me from this battle.'  Begin to declare 'this battle is over and God has delivered me from the hand of the enemy and restoration has already begun.'  Instead of praying 'Lord, I know you are going to pay these bills for me.'  Begin to proclaim 'God has met all my needs, all my bills are paid early and paid in full.'  Call it done now.  Bring it into the now. 

Abraham's faith pleased God.  He called things done before they even happened.  Remember when he and Isaac were going to the mountain to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God.  I can't even imagine how that must have felt for Abraham.  Knowing that he was about to put a knife to his only son and sacrifice him on an altar.  Knowing that, he still declared 'me and the boy will come back again.'  

You see Abraham knew the circumstances yet he still spoke his desire and his belief for the outcome.  He didn't say 'I am sure hoping that God will resurrect my son and we will see you men again.'  No, he firmly declared 'we will be back, both of us.'

If you want your faith to please God and if you want the same results, you have to bring your confession and your prayer life into the now.  Speak it as if it were already here.  Call it done.  Call those bills paid.  Call that body already healed.  Call it the way you want to see it.  Call those things that be not as though they WERE - already were.  As you do this, you will begin to see those things line up with the words you are speaking - there is power in your tongue.  The Bible says you will have what you say.

If you say it is going to happen someday - it will always be in the future, like a carrot dangling in front of you - but if you say it is done now - and it lines up with the word of God - it will also line up with your words and be done now.

Oh, the power God has given us!  Let's put it to use today!  

I am a destination minded person.  I can set a goal and nothing will stop me until I reach that goal.  I have always been that way, and while it is a good trait at times it can also be a pit fall for me.

Jesus died that we might have the abundant life.  We all know that.  But He also died that we might enjoy life to the full, enjoy the life He died to give us.  How many of us can say we enjoy life?

I have a friend, Deborah, she enjoys life to the full.  Every day, She has a destiny, yet she remembers to enjoy the journey.  She doesn't concern herself with how or when she is going to get there - she just enjoys the journey.  She goes on road trips and doesn't even know which way she is going until she reaches the end of her driveway and decides to turn left or right.

Frankly, when I first met Deborah, this trait of hers bugged me but I have learned so much from her.  I have learned to enjoy the day.  Enjoy the journey.  Not to get so caught up in the destination of the trip that I fail to enjoy the ride.

The Bible tells us that God's people should spend their years in pleasure - that means we should be having some fun, don't you think?

One thing that my little grandson has caused me to re-discover is fun.  You know it is a sad thing when we spend so much time raising our children that we forget to play with them.  It is a sad thing when we are so focused on our life and marriage that we forget to enjoy the person we married.

What Deborah has taught me is this;  enjoy the journey, don't be so intent on the destination that you miss the whole point of the jouney. 

Yes, God is taking us somewhere.  We are a people of destiny - we were born with a destiny from God.  And I am a firm believer that if we keep walking, keep trusting, keep believing, we will reach our destiny in God.  However, I think it would be very sad to reach our destiny if we have been miserable all along the way.

My great-grandmother went to be with the Lord when she was in her 80's.  That has been many years ago, but she said something that has forever stuck in my mind;  she said 'This life has been hard, but I have enjoyed every minute of it.'

She died with no regrets.  She lived a hard life, worked on a farm, raised dozens of children.  Her life was not an easy one by any means, but she enjoyed every minute of it and at the end of it, she had no regrets.

Could you say the same thing?  Have you played enough?  Have you enjoyed your life? Or have you been so consumed with the destination and the goal that you forget to laugh along the way?

I believe Christians should be the happiest people on earth.  I believe that we should be so full of joy that the world would want to be like us. 

It's a good thing to be ministry minded and to make a plan.  I am not saying that is bad at all - I am only saying, once the plan is in place and you have started toward your destination - enjoy the journey - don't allow it to be all about the destination - let it also be about the journey.  The things you discover along the way.

Think of a little child.  They stop and see everything.  Have you ever tried to walk a short distance with a two year old?  It takes forever.  They stop and look at every bug, every flower, every leaf - anything that will move they have to stop and touch it.  Why?  They are discovering these wonderful things our God has created.  They are enjoying the journey. 

Then when we grow up, we no longer have time for all that.  Oh my!  What we are missing.  I have enjoyed nothing more at my age than I have enjoyed seeing the world again through the eyes of a small child.  What an awesome gift God has given me.  

And I am blessed to have a husband who continually makes me laugh.  You know, most people who know me, know me as a very serious individual.  Goal oriented.  And well able to meet those goals. They would be shocked to discover that I also hide behind the bathroom door and jump out and say 'boo!' at my husband when he is coming out of the bathroom.  Why?  Just to laugh.  Just to bring a smile in this often difficult and challenging world. 

Jesus said we must come to Him as little children.  Children have fun.  Children laugh.  Children are not concerned with what destination they will reach that day - they are simply enjoying the journey.  When they get there, they are happy.  But they are just as happy along the way.

I don't know where you are today - but wherever you are - take time to smile today. Take time to have some fun.  Take time to enjoy the journey.  Take time to see the world through the eyes of a child.

As I said, most Christians I know are miserable.  It shouldn't be that way.  We should be the happiest people on earth.  After all, the book has already been written that declares our victory - it's a done deal - all we have to do is walk with God - and enjoy the journey.

My friend, there is a battle, but it isn't all about the battle.  The battle has already been fought and won.  It's about enjoying life along the way.  There is a destination - but it's not all about the destination - it's about enjoying the journey on the way.

How long has it been since you have laughed that belly laugh?  How long has it been since you have taken time to smell the flowers?  How long has it been since you have enjoyed the day?  Then it has been too long.  You can change that.  Begin today.

I love those days when God speaks the same thing to me through numerous people.  You can almost feel His excitement as He is sending news what is happening in the spirit.

Tuesday was such a day for me.  A friend sent me a link to a prophecy that talked about time and how we sometimes get out of God's timing and stuck on 'chronos' or clock time.  God's time is different; it is kairos, God's time.  C.S. Lewis called it God's unbounded now.  You see, God is a now God and when He is saying 'it's time' He means it is now.

I had received an email from Wanda about clocks - she was praying for me one day and said she saw clocks, and she realized those clocks needed to be set precisely with God's time.  Therefore, spiritually through prayer, she began to attempt to set the clocks, and then she saw more clocks and was trying to set them all - suddenly all the clocks begin to spin frantically and set themselves. 

What was happening as she prayed was that all those things that were stuck on chronos or clock time were suddenly being set to kairos, God's time. 

You will find it all throughout the Bible, when it was the timing of the Lord, it happened.  It didn't matter what stood in the way - it happened.  Abraham was too old to have a child, as was Sarah, but in the fullness of time - she had a son.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, shouldn't even be having a child, since she had not been with a man, however, in the fullness of time - Jesus was born.

It's like when a woman who is nine months pregnant tells you 'it's time.'  She means delivery is coming and nothing will stop it now.  When she says it's time, you best be on your way to the hospital.

I believe we are in a place of 'it's time.' 

As I shared earlier, I love when God tells you the same thing through different sources.  I received an additional email on Tuesday from another reader who said she had a dream and in the dream a voice said 'it's time.'  She said 'what?'  And the voice became louder and declared 'Now is the time!'

When I read the second email, I became very excited in my spirit.  I knew God was saying 'it's time' for the manifestation of all the things you are praying and standing for.

I have always had an ability to understand times and seasons and I count on that revelation.  Therefore, when I sense and God confirms that time for change is here - I know that we have a window of opportunity - an open heaven if you will - to press in and receive all He has promised.  Not to fight for it - if it is time for a baby to be born - everything that needed to take place to conceive and create that baby is already completed - now it is time for birth.

You see, we don't need to conceive the promise - it has already experienced conception.  We don't need to create the promise - it is already created.  We don't need to do anything but receive it.  Just receive it. Let it be born.  And enjoy that wonderful blessing.

I don't know about you - but I am excited - my God has said 'Kim, it's time.'  Therefore, He and I are going into the delivery room and seeing my promise come forth - to the place that I see it with my natural eyes.

This reminds me of something Judy Jacobs once said to me; 'Be careful who you let in the delivery room with you.'  The delivery room is reserved for those who you have intimate and trusting relationships with - be careful who you listen to during the time of delivery.  One person can bring peace, while another may bring turmoil - stay in peace and allow God to bring forth all He has promised you. 

I declare over you today; it's time!  It's time for your promise.  Change is in the air - in the spirit.  Old things are passing away and all things new are coming now.  Get out of the timing of the world and ask God to translate you into His time - to line you up with His timing and declare 'I will not miss my time of delivery.'  Step firmly into Gods unbounded now!

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

About 75% of the prayer request I receive daily are for a financial breakthrough.  It seems much of the body of Christ is living in lack, and it should not be so.  Jesus went to the cross, delivered us from the curse and made it final there - it was completed at the cross.  He also took our poverty that we might have His wealth.  That's pretty plain.  Then why is much of the body of Christ living in lack?

I believe Matthew 6:33 says it all;  seek first His kingdom and His way of doing things - then and only then - will these things you have need of be added to you. 

We have to seek God and His way of doing things.  We can't live under the blessings of God without living by the principles of God.  Your finances can't be blessed if you are not doing what God says do with your money. 

Do you know that one meaning of sowing is to become pregnant?  I thought that was very interesting - when you sow  a seed for something, you become pregnant with that something.  I have become pregnant with many things over the years as I sowed and then I have given birth to those promises.  That's one of Gods ways of the kingdom of God.

Another way of the kingdom of God is through what you say.  You will never see it unless you say it.  God created the world with words and you must do the same thing. 

If you send a prayer request, of course I will pray.  However, if you continue to speak negative about the situation, you are eliminating everything I prayed.  You are the prophet of your own life and you will have what you say, not what I say. 

If I receive an email and it is full of negative statements, I can't do anything to help you until you decide, make the choice, to cause your words to line up with what God says about the situation.

One week, several months ago, I was doing our bookkeeping and God said 'what came in last month?'  And I answered.  And He said 'what came in this month?'  And I answered.  It was much less the current month.  God said 'I am not a God of decrease.'  'I am a God of increase.'  Then He said 'what are you going to do?' 

I began to do what He told me in the beginning of this year, I began to declare a thing.  I found scripture to cover my situation and I began to declare things.  I declared that my God was not a God of decrease and that He had promised me that there would be no decrease in my life - therefore increase must come.  I refuse to go backward.

The Bible says what we allow, God allows and I refused to allow decrease.

Did you know that God said He would not allow decrease in our lives?  Yes!  It is in Psalm 107:38.  He says He will not allow our cattle to decrease.  In Old Testament times the cattle was their income.  It was their money.

Your cattle may be your Arbonne or Mary Kay sales.  Your cattle may be your business income.  Your cattle may be your trucking business.  Your cattle may be your income and bonuses - whatever your cattle is - God has promised you that He will not allow you to have any decrease.

Therefore, if you are seeing decrease, you must stop it.  Just as God asked me 'what are you going to do?'  He didn't say 'well, I will fix this.'  And He didn't say 'what do you want Me to do?'  No,He was telling me that I had the power to stop it.  It is the same for you - you have the power to stop it.  It will be through seeking the kingdom of God and His way of doing things and then doing them. 

I don't normally give out scriptures to people to confess, unless I feel led to. You have to take those words and scriptures and change your circumstances.  These are things that no one else can do for you - you have to put in the time and effort to cause these changes yourself.

That being said;  at the end of this motivation, I have added some scriptures that you can quote over your finances to help you to come out of that place of lack.  However, you have to stop speaking what is happening and begin to speak what you want to happen.  Don't speak the word half the time and negative the other half.  You are getting nowhere if you do that.  Say what God says and nothing else.

I get hundreds of emails a week from people who are doing this and it is turning things around.  It does turn things around, because you are building an image inside of yourself with the word of God.  Each time you speak His word, you build an image on the inside of you. 

Remember, sowing means to become pregnant?  When you sow the word of God you are literally becoming pregnant with that word and you will bring it to the time of birth - and you will give birth to your promise.

It's one of God's principles - apply it today and watch everything change.

This past week I received a donation from one of our readers.  Along with it was a note - not to me - to God.  That note impacted me and has remained with me for this entire week.  I want to share it with you if I may.

The note said:

God, I worship You with my offering.  I refuse to give You something which cost me nothing.

It was a short and simple note but it grabbed my heart.  It was King David who first said in 2 Samuel 24:24 that He would not give his God something that cost him nothing.  Within the letter I read from one of our readers, I knew this offering had cost her something.

It made me think of how flippantly I had thrown an offering in the plate in the past, thinking little about it.  I had not always worshipped God with my offerings.  I only did that when I was in crises and I sowed a seed that cost me something.  That's what this note reminded me of.

You know, we are givers by nature - (yes, Deborah, we are) because God is a giver and His nature is in us - but often we give out of our abundance and think little of it.  But do you remember those times when you have given out of your lack?  Or do you recall those times when it hurt to give?  I do.  And it was those times that I received the greatest harvest. 

Every seed you will ever sow will reap a harvest that is the truth of the word.  If you sow apples, you will reap apples.  If you sow love, you will reap love.  If you sow money, you will reap money - according to what you sow, that shall you reap.  It is the law of seedtime and harvest.  It works here on earth and it works in the spirit.  God is not mocked - that's what the word says.

That being said, may I ask you a question - actually two questions?  When was the last time you worshipped God with your giving?  Whether it was in tithe or offering - when was the last time you stopped and presented it to God as a form of worship?  That was the first thing that grabbed my heart in her note to God.  She worshipped God with her giving.

Secondly, when was the last time you gave God a sacrifice?  Something that cost you something?  The Message Bible says it like this:  No. I've got to buy it from you for a good price; I'm not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice."

Now, a sacrifice may not be financial.  It may be a sacrifice of your time.  It may be a sacrifice of yourself - you may find yourself in a situation with someone who is in the wrong, but you choose to forgive anyway - that too is a sacrifice.

You may have plans for the day and someone calls and need your help.  As you go and help your friend that is a sacrifice.  It cost you something - it cost you laying down your own plans to help another.  Have you given your God anything lately that cost you something?  The Bible says what you give to others you give to God.

I don't know what God is talking to you about through this motivation but I do know that He told me to write about this today.  He wants your sacrifice - the one that cost you something.

It's easy to give $20 if you have $20,000 in the bank - it's no sacrifice - it's hard to give $20 if you only have $25.  Ask my friend Deborah - God literally made her give her all financially two or three times - every single dime - but in the end - He blessed her beyond her imagination.  Every time she gave during that season, it cost her something.

She was worshipping with her giving.  Are you worshipping with yours?

Give your God something that cost you something - He will give you back more than you can contain.  Look at the cost He paid to secure your covenant.  He is an amazing God.  Worship Him today - with your giving, with your time, with yourself, with all you are.  Your worship will come up to Him as a sweet, sweet sacrifice.

I was talking with a friend over the weekend and she was sharing with me about the city she currently lives in.  She said there was valuable minerals on much of the land in that city.  She said when people purchase land they often have to purchase mineral rights as well.

It surprised me, so I commented on it.  I said 'there is so much poverty there, it is odd to me that they have those valuable minerals right on their land.'  I said 'they have treasures right under their feet.'  She replied 'yes, they just haven't tapped into it yet.'  We both looked at each other and knew there was a nugget of revelation in that comment.

You see, that is how much of the church is today.  We have this valuable treasure on the inside of us - and many of us have never even begun to tap into it.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4 that we have a treasure in earthen vessels.  It is true, we do.  The fullness of the Godhead dwells in us.  The power of the cross dwells in us.  The Holy Spirit dwells in us.  Jesus, Himself, lives in us.

The other day I had spent a wonderful morning with the Lord in my prayer time.  I was simply immersed in His presence.  As I left my house to go run errands, I said to God, 'God, make me more like Jesus, I want to be more like Him every day.'  He said to me, 'Kim, you are 100% just like Jesus on the inside, all you have to do is allow it to come to the outside.'

Our treasure in earthen vessels is not limited, it is not half there - it is 100% complete.  It is the fullness of all He is.  All we have to do is allow what He has already placed on the inside to come to the outside and be seen.

It is impossible for God to make us more like Jesus - He has already done that - now, it is up to us to allow the characteristics of Jesus to prevail.  It is up to us to not allow the flesh to be in control but to allow the spirit of God, within us, to control our emotions, our reactions and our life.  It is really that simple.

I always say 'it is a choice.'  And it is.  If I allow God to rule in my life in any area - people will see more of Jesus in me.  However, if I allow my flesh to rule in any area - people will see Kim.  They will not see Jesus.  It should not be so.

This place, this new place we have come into with God - this new season - is an amazing place.  A place of blessing and peace and revelation.  It is also a place to allow Jesus to prevail in our lives.  No longer is it acceptable to allow some of the things in our lives that we used to excuse.  We have to be people of good character and integrity.  Remember, a faithful man abounds with blessings.  If you are not a faithful man - you will never abound with blessings.

But - if you are a faithful man - you have a promise - you WILL abound with the blessings of God.  It's His promise - His word to you and He always keeps His word.

Today, remember, you have a hidden treasure.  It is already yours, you already have the rights to it - Jesus purchased your rights at the cross.  Have you tapped into that treasure?  Have you tapped in to all that is yours through Jesus Christ?  Have you allowed that fullness of God that dwells in you to come out and prevail in your life?  If not, I suggest you tap into it today - begin to walk in the fullness of the treasure that is already yours.  Allow people to see more of Jesus and less of you.

You have a treasure - you have the rights to it - receive it and begin to walk in it today.

Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 3:1

Lately I have been thinking about something Kenneth Copeland said;  He said that miracles were not God's best for us.  That may come as a shock to someone in need of a miracle, yet it remains a truth.

God never intended for His people to need healing.  God never intended for His people to need a financial miracle.  God never intended for His people to need restoration in their marriage.  God intended for His people to walk in the fullness of what was purchased for them at the cross by Jesus Christ. 

I used to think that miracles were way up there on God's list but praise God I am coming to the knowledge of the truth.  Hebrews 3:1 says that Jesus is the High Priest and Apostle of our profession or our confession.  This refers to what we say.  It literally means to say the same thing that Jesus says.  Jesus is our Apostle and High Priest.  That means He is anointed to enforce His law, which is what He says belongs to us and all we have to do is say what He says.

Jesus can't enforce anything when we say 'I'm broke and I am always going to be broke.'  He can't help us when we say 'I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and I catch every bug that comes my way.'  He is powerless to help us when we talk like that.  Oh, but when we begin to talk like He talks, He has the anointing and the power to cause every single word we say in line with His word to come to pass. 

At the beginning of this year, the Lord told me that everything we get this year will come by declaration - or what we say.  I have seen that to be so true in my own life and in the lives of those around me.  It's been amazing to watch.  We are in a season like I have never seen before where we have exactly what we say.  So be careful what you say.  Make sure what you say is lining up with the word of God. 

I have taught this over and over this year, but daily I get emails full of declaration of negative words spoken over their situations.  And I want to cry out 'please hear this message and say what you want to see and nothing else.' 

I know it is not easy to do and I know sometimes you feel like you are not being truthful but that is a lie of the enemy.  If you are saying what God says no matter what you feel, you will have what you say.  Nothing can stop it because Jesus has been appointed to cause it to come to pass.

It is a time like never before to 'call those things that be not as though they were.'  I mean, change your confession.  Stop saying 'God is going to come through for me.'  Stop saying 'I am believing God for a healing.'  Stop saying 'God is going to restore my marriage.'  Begin to say boldly 'God has come through for me and I have come out with plunder.'   Begin to declare 'God has restored my marriage, there is more love in my marriage now than there ever was.'  Say out loud 'By the stripes of Jesus I am already healed, and I now walk in divine health.' 

God's best for you is for you to never have to ask for a miracle but to be a walking testimony of His faithfulness and love.  God's best is for you to never need a healing but to walk through life never being sick a day in your life.  God's best for you is for you to be the lender and not the borrower.  God's best is for you to have more than enough and to leave an inheritance for your children and your children's children. 

I encourage you today, begin to walk in God's best for you.  Now, if you need a miracle today - that's okay, God has one with your name on it.  But after you get your miracle, begin to declare that you walk in the miraculous provision of Almighty God and He daily loads you with benefits.  Begin to declare that the windows of heaven have opened and poured out a blessing so big that you have no room for it.  Begin to declare that from this day forth you will walk in divine health.  I promise you when you say the same thing Jesus says, our High Priest will bring it to pass.  And you will begin to walk in the provision of the covenant.  God wanted you to walk just like Adam and Eve before the fall, in His covenant wealth with no sorrow.  He wanted you to have that provision so badly that He sent Jesus to buy it back for you.  Don't neglect this wonderful gift. 

Speak His word and begin to change your world.  Begin to declare things as if they were already done.  Don't confess God is going to do something, confess that He already has, because He already has.  Put pressure on His unfailing word and everything and I mean everything will turn for your good.  Everything in your life will begin to line up with what God has said concerning you.  Do this for a month.  Say nothing negative for one month.  Say only what God says for 31 days and watch what happens, you will be amazed. 

If I could get one message across this year it would be - there is power, unlimited power in your words - use them to change your world.  And if there was one message you received revelation on, let it be this one.  Change your world - give our High Priest the tools He needs to bring it to pass - your words.

It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Rev. 21:6 

Everyone, or at least, nearly everyone knows this scripture.  Jesus is the beginning and the end…the Alpha and the Omega.  I have never doubted that and most people don’t have trouble with believing this scripture.  

Jesus is the beginning, when we were born again, He was what drew us and saved us, He was our beginning.  And we know that in the end it is Him we will see face to face.  Most of us also know that when the Lord leads us to do something, to step out in faith in an area, that it is He, the Alpha who is our beginning.  He is the one who enables us to step out there and believe He will see us through.  

Remember the excitement you feel when you step out in faith believing God for something, perhaps a financial breakthrough or healing in you body or perhaps even for a mate.  In the beginning, the alpha, we are so excited and full of faith.  And at that time, we can see the end and feel confident that God has answered us and we have what we have asked for.  Then what happens?  Time…and circumstances.  And our faith begins to waver.  We begin to think things like, ‘maybe it wasn’t really God who led me in this direction.’  Or ‘maybe I didn’t hear God correctly.’  Or ‘maybe it wasn’t Gods will to heal me or deliver me.’  Let me share with you something today that I hope will ignite your faith and propel you to the other side.

Remember when Jesus told the disciples, ‘let’s go to the other side’ and they began their journey.  In the middle of the sea, a storm arose, and they became frightened.  Water began to fill the boat and it was tossed to and fro by the wind.  They began to feel and say that Jesus didn’t care about them and He was going to let them die.  But Jesus had said, ‘we are going to the other side.’  Sometimes it is hard to recall what the Lord spoke to you in the beginning, when the storm arises.  The disciples could have said, ‘Jesus said we were going to the other side, so we will make it, let’s trust Him.’  But they became afraid.  I have been out in the middle of the sea on a calm day; I can’t honestly say that I wouldn’t have been a little afraid too.  But, I would hope if I knew Jesus was in the boat with me that I would know that everything was going to be alright.  I would hope I could trust in Him.

Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?  They were worshipping God ~ that was the only thing that the king had against them, yet they were thrown into the fire.  But!  They were not alone.  There was a fourth man in the fire with them, that person was our Lord.  There He was making sure that not one hair on their head was singed.  

What about Daniel in the Lions den?  The lions were unable to eat Daniel because their mouths were shut.  He was not alone.  

And then there was David, the little shepherd boy, who conquered a giant.  How?  In the name of the Lord.  He wasn’t alone either, God, in full force was backing up every word David spoke that day and he took down the giant that defied his God.

This I have learned, both in the Bible and in my own life.  Jesus is not only the Alpha and the Omega ~ He is also the One with me in the middle of the storm.  He is the One with me in the fire and in every trial.  He is the One with me when circumstances would like to eat me alive.  He is the One with me when the giants of this world rise up and attempt to take me out.  He is the One who has defeated every single enemy for me.  All I have to do is stand and believe.  Believe He is who He says He is.  

If God said to you, ‘By My stripes you were healed.’  Then you were healed.  If you stand, you will see that healing manifest.  If God said to you, ‘I shall supply all your needs according to My riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’  If you will stand, you will see the provision come forth.  If God has said to you, ‘begin your ministry and I will bless it.’  Then begin.  He will do what He said He would do.  

The hardest time is in the middle, but even then, you are not alone.  He has spoken His Word to you and He will bring it to pass.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  He who begun a good work will complete it.  God cannot lie.

If you find yourself somewhere in between the time that God spoke to you to step out in faith and the time when you see the promise come to pass, you are not alone.  He is in the boat with you.  He didn’t say, ‘go to the other side and I will meet you there.’  No, He said ‘let’s go to the other side.’  Let US go to the other side.  He is there, with you. Trust Him.  Believe in Him.  Only believe, all things are possible to him who believes.  The enemy tries so hard to get us out of faith and to stop us from trusting God BEFORE we get to the other side.  Why?  Because he knows that when we make it to the other side, then we will know we are victorious, (we are actually already victorious through the blood of Jesus, but sometimes we don’t know that until we see it manifest) and he can’t stop us.  And he knows that the next time God encourages us to step out in faith, it will be easier and quicker.  He is a liar, don’t listen to the enemy, give him no place, God will take you to the place He has promised you.  Whatever He has spoken to your heart ~ He will do it.  Whatever He has promised you in His Word, it is already done…simply believe.  

He is the Alpha, the beginning.  He is the Omega, the end.  But He is also with you in the middle.  Don’t quit, don’t give up.  Don’t entertain thoughts from the enemy that it is not going to happen.  Tell him to take a hike – you and Jesus are going all the way to the other side.  Tell him that he has been defeated and the victory was paid for by Jesus for you and you have the victory – every single time.  Tell him you won’t back off, but you will press forward to the victory you already have in Jesus.  Tell him what the Word says.

A few weeks ago, the enemy was really tormenting me with this question, ‘what are you going to do now?’  It was constant, it never stopped.  After a couple hours, I was tired of hearing him, then I had a God inspired thought.  I bought me a giant corkboard.  At the top I put a sign that said ‘look what the Lord has done.’  Then I put a picture or a note with every single thing that the Lord has done for me in the past few months, I filled that board up.  At the bottom it says, ‘now what are YOU going to do now, devil?’  I put it on the wall across from my desk.  It is what I see most throughout my day.  You know, it’s a funny thing, he hasn’t asked me what I was going to do since I put my board up.  You see, that day, I raised up a standard against his tormenting thoughts.  I put the pressure back on him.  Don’t yield to the pressure, only yield to the Word of God and what God has said to you.  Stand up and tell the enemy where to go and send him packing with a good dose of the Word of God covering your situation.  

Most of all, don’t get out of the boat.  Don’t speak things that are the opposite of what you believe God for. Stay in the boat.  Jesus is with you and you are going to the other side.  On the other side is victory manifested.  On the other side is prosperity.  On the other side is healing. On the other side is wholeness.  On the other side is soundness of mind.  Whatever you have need of is on the other side.  Trust Him.   He will not fail you.  Keep rowing.  Keep trusting.  Keep believing.  The breakthrough is closer than you think – much closer than it was a month ago, you are closer to the other side than you can imagine.  Don’t stop now.  Declare what the Word says.  Say ‘I am an overcomer, I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony and my testimony is that I have the victory – now, in Jesus name.’  You have already seen the Alpha in your situation, if you continue to stand, you will see the Omega, the end, and the Bible declares that this affliction will not arise against you a second time.  Stand!  Stand!  Until you see the ultimate victory, stand!

For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Acts 8:23

The other day I received an email from one of our readers.  She was believing God for several miracles; healing, financial blessing and more.  She is a strong woman of God and it is hard to move her.  On that day, something had hit her that devastated her.  And she wrote me for advice on what to do.  She was so hurt, disappointed and angry by the thing her loved one had done.  She needed counsel.

 I told her that what had happened to her was horrible and I could absolutely sympathize with her feelings and she had every right to feel that way - however - to pick herself back up, and begin to say what the word of God says about your loved one and the situation.  I told her 'don't give any place to the devil, don't allow him to think he has slowed you down one bit.'

It was a tough answer, I know.  After I wrote it, it concerned me a little and I thought maybe I should have been more sympathetic - but God corrected me.  He reminded me of something He had told me to always watch out for.  He had said 'just before a breakthrough, bitterness and unforgiveness will try to come, give it no place, trust me and refuse bitterness.'

That command had stuck in my mind and any time bitterness tries to come, I remember that statement.  This is what happened to the lady who wrote me, bitterness had tried to come.  But she did not accept it.  She cried for a moment, then picked herself back up and said what God says and she forgave and let it go.  That was not an easy decision for her to make - her heart is involved.  But more than that, she wanted the will of God.

I was watching a movie once, an old movie about a Kingdom.  The queen had fallen in love with a man other than her husband.  Her husband found out and went to her and asked her what she wanted to do.  She said 'my emotions, my feelings come and are gone in a moment, but it is my will that holds me steady in life.'

You see, it is that way with us.  We can't be led by our feelings.  They come and they go.  It is our will - our ability to choose Gods way - that holds us steady in life.

Now, this woman of God, she could have been angry for a few weeks and allowed that bitterness to settle in - and it would have been much harder to deal with - but she didn't.  She got rid of it right away.  She literally kicked the devil in the teeth and said 'you have no power over me; I will say what God says anyway.'  I am telling you - the enemy can do nothing with a person like that.

Do you need a breakthrough?  If so, beware of traps of the enemy.  Beware of bitterness.  Beware of unforgiveness.  The Bible says it is poison and will keep you bound.  The Bible also says 'bitterness rots the bones.' 

Bitterness is sometimes sly - you may not even realize it is there.  One time, my wrists were giving me a lot of trouble - they hurt so badly.  I kept praying about them and God kept saying to me 'bitterness rots the bones.'  I didn't even put the two together until God had spoken that to me for several days.  Then it hit home with me and I began to check my heart and see where I had bitterness.  I found it, exposed it, repented of it and made it right.  Don't you know, my wrists stopped hurting and haven't hurt since?  I had bitterness and didn't even know it.  Bitterness is poison.  It is bondage and it will block your blessing.

Ephesians 4:31 says let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you.  You have the power to choose - is what you are holding on to worth the cost?  It could be costing you your blessing, is it worth it?  I would say not.  Then let it go.  Repent of it and make it right then walk on in His forgiveness and get ready to be blessed.

Love always forgives - love always believes the best in others - and love never fails.  Our God is love - should we not walk as He walks?

Today I was watching a TV segment about a man who had battled cancer for 10 years.  Understandably, he was weary of the battle.  He didn't want to take any further chemo or be hospitalized another time - he wanted to let the cancer take its course. 

Those he loved and who loved him, begged him to try one more time.  He replied that he was afraid.  They asked him what he was afraid of and he said he was afraid to hope again.  You see, he had hoped so many times, for ten years, only to find disappointment.  He no longer wanted to hope.

The Bible says disappointment makes the heart sick.  I know that to be true.  I too, have battled and stood against disappointment many times in my walk with God.  Even recently, there was a situation that had disappointed me over and over and over - yet, I felt God kept telling me to continue to believe.

Often times when I minister or speak behind a pulpit, I will look out into the faces of those attending and what I see makes me so sad.  Most faces look weary and worn down, they often look defeated.  It should not be this way in the Body of Christ.  We are citizens of the Kingdom of God - all things are provided for us and we have a hope of a wonderful future in God.  Yet every day, I see friend after friend with unanswered prayer - struggling to keep hoping.

Abraham was a man of hope.  The Bible says He hoped against hope.  What does that mean?  It means when there was absolutely no reason for hoping that what God had promised would come to pass - he hoped on anyway.  And Abraham saw every single thing God told him come to pass - as it always is with God.

Moses, he too hoped against hope.  When it looked like they would all be slaughtered on this side of the Red Sea - he continued to trust God and obey what He said.  In doing that - they all made it to the other side and not only that - but every single enemy was destroyed. 

We see in the New Testament another who hoped against hope.  Remember when Jesus told Peter to launch out into the deep?  Peter said 'but Lord, I have already done that - frankly, I have been doing that all day and night and I have caught nothing, not one single fish, I am tired and weary, I am ready to call it a night.'  Yet Peter, knowing the power of Jesus' word declared, 'nevertheless, at Thy word, I will launch out one more time.' 

Peter, as we know, launched out and brought in a huge haul - so large that he had to get another boat to help him bring it in.

Let me ask you this;  what if Peter had said 'Lord, I have already tried, I know I should trust You but I am just too tired to give it one more try, perhaps tomorrow.'  What do you think would have happened?  I will tell you, he would have missed the largest haul of his life - that's what.

Oh I know weariness comes - it comes to all of us.  But don't miss your moment, as Judy Jacobs would say - don't miss your moment of launching out into the deep one more time.  Don't miss the moment of seeing with your eyes the biggest haul of your life.  Don't miss your moment.  Never ever stop believing - what God showed you in the beginning has not changed - it is still there for the taking but it is according to your faith.

If you have grown weary in believing - trust one more time.  If you are tired from the battle - purpose in your heart that you will fight one more time - only God knows what that one more time will bring.  Choose to trust - choose to hope against hope.  Choose to believe the word of God  REALLY IS the final answer.

Yes, the Bible says disappointment makes the heart sick - but it doesn't stop there - it goes on to say 'but when the promise comes it is the tree of life.'  The tree of life - sustenance to last the rest of your days.  Something you can eat from every single day, every month of the year.  The promise does come.  Allow patience to have it's perfect work in you - in the end you will be whole, lacking nothing.

Go ahead - launch out one more time.  Trust one more time.  And bring in your haul.

Yesterday as I was visiting with a friend online, the Lord began to show me some things about this season we are in.  I had said to this friend, 'there are no limits here, only in our mind.'  And she replied 'that's why we are to have faith like a child, they don't consider the logistics of anything, and they just want it and go after with abandon.

When she said that, I immediately pictured my grandson, Bryson.  You see, about six months ago, when he first started understanding buying toys, we would take him to the store and he would look at several toys and his Mom would say 'which one do you want?'  He would point to one and that's the one he would get.  I often thought of how wonderful it was that he would just pick one and be content.  Then he caught on.

A few weeks ago, we went to the store and I sat Bryson down to look at the toys - he was in wonder and amazement.  He looked at this one and then that one - then came the usual command.  I said 'Bryson, pick which one you want and we will go pay for it.'  He smiled and turned back to the toys and them he picked up every single one that he could possibly get in his little arms and started down the aisle.  Breanne and I busted out laughing.  The 'one' he picked was an armload.  It was absolutely the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Did I make him put one back?  No, I didn't, I got them all.  Now, that may not be a good practice later on, but for now, it suits my story.

This one thing I know, in this place we are in the spirit right now, and there are no limits.  The only limits are found in our own thinking.  If you can imagine it and it does not go against the word of God - you can have it.  You can literally do like Bryson and load up with His benefits.  As a matter of fact, the Bible says He daily loads us with benefits. (Psalm 68:19)

If God said to you today 'pick what you want.'  Would you be timid and say 'well, I will just take this one thing; I really don't need that much.'  Or would you be like Bryson and load up knowing that your Father couldn't resist you?  He says to come to him as a little child.  A little child would load themselves up with all they could carry - I know, I saw it with my own eyes. 

We are in a season of a tremendous outpouring of blessing - it's there - whether you see it or not, it is there.  It is a time to load up with benefits.  Don't by shy.  A couple days ago, I went to look at a desk.  While I was there, the man said 'come in this room, there is some things in there we don't need and are giving away.'  I looked and said 'well, I really don't need any of this, but I have a friend who just opened her offices and she will need some of it.'  He looked at me and said 'don't be shy, take all you want.'  I picked up a few things and left with them.

After I returned home, I thought about it and I should have brought most of it home to her, it would have been such a blessing to her but I didn't want to be greedy - at least that is what I told myself.  Really, it was not that at all - I had that mentality of 'I will just take a couple things' and I believe that is what God is trying to work out of me.  He is trying to work limits out of me and get me to the place that I am like Bryson - a little child.  A child who will allow God to load me up with benefits.

What about you?  Do you settle for your needs met only?  Do you allow God to daily load you with benefits?  What would you say to God today if He said 'take whatever you like, I will give it to you.'  You see, He has already paid for it all - through the blood of Christ - paid in full.  You only have to load yourself up with it today and walk on with all your blessings.  You don't have to choose just one, you can have it all - everything He purchased at the cross - you can have it all.  Load yourself up with health, peace, prosperity, soundness of mind, healthy relationships, businesses that prosper, and joy!  Don't take just one - take them all - come to Him as a little child and load up.

On Tuesday this week, as I was in my prayer room, I felt compelled to clean my house.  Now, you would have to understand me - I am a neat fanatic - so there isn't usually a lot of cleaning to do.  But this day I felt the need to do some deep cleaning - kind of like spring cleaning.  You know what I mean?  You have to clean baseboards, bathrooms and scrub floors as well as windows and everything else in between.

I began cleaning - it took me hours - but by 9pm that night, I was done.  My house was spotless and smelled wonderful.  Still my carpet needed attention, so I called a carpet cleaner and scheduled him for the next morning.  Everything in my house was in order - everything was clean and spotless and in its place, I thought 'whew!'  I am finished.

I didn't really think about it a lot.  I am used to being compelled by the spirit to do things that I really don't understand and I seldom question them anymore.  I simply obey.

On Thursday, Rocky came in to bring my lunch and I had been touchy that day.  I told him I didn't know why I was feeling that way but I was sorry.  He said 'oh well, it's just a woman thing, kind of like you cleaning the house the other day, you are just nesting.  That's what women do they nest when they are touchy.' 

I laughed and said 'they don't nest when they are touchy, they nest when they are pregnant and about to give birth.'  Aha!  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  I understood why I was compelled to get my house in order.  God always prompts me to do that when something wonderful is about to happen - I get everything all cleaned up and ready for it.  I don't know why - I only know that is how He has always worked with me.

Then I began to get emails from some of our readers saying 'can you feel the difference in the atmosphere?'  They kept saying 'something is happening - it's like we are expecting.'  There it goes again - with the pregnant terminology.  Expecting - nesting.  God is surely up to something!

Can you feel it in the air?  Time to get ready for the birth of something wonderful!  Time to get everything in order.  Time to push and push and push until you see the wonderful thing that God has promised you!  It's coming through the birth canal of the spirit and it has affected the entire atmosphere.

I know things are different in the spirit, I have felt it for a few weeks.  Sometimes it makes me jumpy and I can't sit still.  Sometimes I am weary.  Sometimes I am weepy, and I am not a person who cries.  Sometimes all I can do is pray.  I don't know exactly what is going on but I know something is and I know it is big.

Therefore God has me getting ready for it.  God often has me do things in the natural that parallel with what is happening in the spirit.  Therefore, if you are feeling compelled to get ready - just do whatever you feel you need to do.  It may seem silly and simple - but do it.  It is that act of faith that will take you on to the next step.

Often people miss it because they think it makes no sense - it doesn't have to make sense - we are spirit beings living in a body - not everything is going to make sense - just follow the leading of the spirit and do whatever He is leading you to do. 

My friends, God is moving in the earth - His glory is being revealed - it is happening now.  Don't try to be normal and miss out on the things God is doing in the earth - be spirit led - be supernatural - be just like Jesus - see things from the spiritual side not the natural side and cooperate with the Spirit of God. 

He is getting us ready for something.  It's big and wonderful and full of Him - that is enough for me.  As for me, I am fully prepared and willing to do whatever it takes to bring forth all God has for me, I will clean, I will nest, I will pray, I will push and push and I will worship - how about you?

Over the past few days it seemed everywhere I turned God was speaking the same thing through many different ways - never give up.  I received a book in the mail titled 'Never give up.'  Then I flipped on TBN and began to listen to the end of a teaching message and it was titled 'Never give up.'  It continued to happen over and over - wherever I looked I saw the words 'never give up.'

I began to think about some of the stories I had read about different individuals, I want to share a few of those with you today.

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York City caught on.

Babe Ruth is famous for his past home run record, but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts. He hit 714 home runs and struck out 1,330 times in his career, about which he said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." John Wooden once explained that winners make the most errors.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."  He went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. In fact, the proposed park was rejected by the city of Anaheim on the grounds that it would only attract riffraff.

27 publishers rejected Dr. Seuss's first book, To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher called him hopeless as a composer. And, of course, you know that he wrote five of his greatest symphonies while completely deaf.

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln went to war a captain and returned a private. Afterwards, he was a failure as a businessman. As a lawyer in Springfield, he was too impractical and temperamental to be a success. He turned to politics and was defeated in his first try for the legislature, again defeated in his first attempt to be nominated for congress, defeated in his application to be commissioner of the General Land Office, defeated in the senatorial election of 1854, defeated in his efforts for the vice-presidency in 1856, and defeated in the senatorial election of 1858.

All these people whom the world told to give up had one thing in common, they refused to give up.  Regardless of what happened, they refused to give up and they refused to let their dreams of success die.

Luke 18:1 tells us that Jesus showed us we should never give up.  One of my favorite scriptures is found in Micah 7:8;  Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;  When I fall, I will arise;  When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.

There is something you will notice about the true people of God, though they fall, they will arise - every time, without fail.  If they continue to trust in God - they will arise.  They may appear down today but they will arise tomorrow.

I can't tell you how many times it has looked like it was over for me or one of my loved ones - when it looked like it was time for the enemy to rejoice - it looked like I had fallen.  However, every time, I arose.  Every time I felt as if I was sitting in darkness - the Lord became my light.

I don't know what He is speaking to you about today when He says 'never give up'  - but you do.  You know in your heart what thing it is in your life that appears dead or hopeless and yet He is saying 'never give up.'  Remember the One who raises the dead dwells in us - whatever we speak life in to will have life, as long as it lines up with the word of God.  The life giving power that resides in us will cause life to manifest.

Never give up on your dreams.  Never give up on what God has told you.  Never give up on what He has promised you.  God will never give up on you - never give up on Him.  1 Cor. 1:9 in the Message Bible says it like this; God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

God refuses to give up on you - refuse to give up on Him.  Refuse to give up on your dream.  No matter what comes your way, refuse to give up.  Over the past twenty years, I have learned many things about God - one thing that I have known without question is His faithfulness.  If you refuse to give up, His faithfulness will come shining through.  You will see His goodness. 

Another of my favorite scriptures is this; Psalm 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.  The Message Bible says it like this; I am confident I will see His goodness in my life.  This is how we must live - confident we will see His goodness, after all, isn't that a life of faith.

I have been excited in my spirit all week long - some would say it is because it is almost Christmas - but they would be wrong - it is much deeper than that.  It is a knowing that God is doing something so big on our behalf that my mind can't even comprehend it.  If I spend time sitting and pondering about it, I become so excited that I can't sit still.

All day today I have listened for the Lord to give me a motivation for tomorrow - I would think of a 'word' I could send out and it would be okay - but I was purposely waiting on that 'word from God in due season.'  You know the one - for him who is weary.

So I waited and waited. I don't want to miss the thing God is saying to us in this hour.  It seems in this season, more than any season I recall, God has been confirming what He is saying over and over - today was such a day.

As I waited I received an email from a reader who shared a scripture with me that she had heard when she was listening to a message called 'The Wait is Over.'  I have to share this with you - it has had me on the edge of my seat today.  It is found in Ezekiel 12:21-28 and I am sharing the Amplified Version with you today.

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, the days drag on and every vision comes to nothing and is not fulfilled? Tell them therefore, thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall use it no more as a proverb in Israel. But say to them, the days are at hand and the fulfillment of every vision.  For there shall be no more any false, empty, and fruitless vision or flattering divination in the house of Israel.  For I am the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed (come to pass); it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God.  Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, the vision that [Ezekiel] sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off.  Therefore say to them, thus says the Lord God: There shall none of My words be deferred any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be performed, says the Lord God.

This is what I feel in my spirit -that we are in a time when the words God has spoken are being fulfilled - coming to pass.  No more delays, no more promises being prolonged - fulfillment, as God has said.

But let's look at another part of that scripture - you see, it says people were saying 'the days drag on and nothing comes to pass.'  They were having what they say - but now, God is saying to say a new thing.  My friends we must begin to say what God says - we must begin to say 'the words that God has spoken to me are no longer delayed, they come to pass now.'  We must begin to declare that God's word spoken over our life will no longer be deferred - they will no longer be delayed - they come to pass now.  God has said so in His word.

I know God is moving mightily - I can feel it.  I know things are happening and I also know it is as Jesus said in the word of God - according to our faith.

Allow your faith to grab hold of this scripture and begin to proclaim - 'no more delays'  'no more prolonged prophecy'  'all comes to pass now!'  As you come into agreement with God and His word - He will amaze you - I am hearing testimonies from every direction - let the next one I hear be yours!  Oh, I am so excited in my spirit.  I hope you are too!

This morning the Lord led me to get out the prophetic words I had received over the past 18 years and remind myself of what He has said to me.  You see, the New Testament tells us to war with the words that God has spoken to us or over us.  And sometimes it is very helpful to our faith to remind ourselves what God has said. 

As I took the time to go through those typed and hand written notes, my faith was ignited.  Dreams and desires that had lain dormant were once again alive in me.  It was so encouraging and uplifting.  David said he encouraged himself in the Lord. 

You know sometimes we find ourselves in a place where there is no one to encourage us - but that shouldn't stop us - instead we should do as David did and encourage ourselves.  We do that by reading the word of God concerning our situation or by doing as I did today, reminding ourselves of what God has said. 

God can't work on our behalf if we are not in faith.  Therefore it is vital that we keep ourselves in faith and keep all doubt at bay.  Remember David said (to himself) 'why are you cast down, o my soul?  Hope thou in God.'  Even David, a man after the heart of God became discouraged and had to encourage himself.

I believe God loves it when we encourage ourselves - that shows Him that we are determined to believe Him no matter what. 

I also know that God loves for us to remind Him what He has said to us.  Isaiah 43:26 tells us to put God in remembrance of His word - to state our case.  It's okay to remind God of what He has said in His word, as a matter of fact, He expects us to.

In Genesis 32:9-12, Jacob did just that.  God had told him that his life would be blessed and no harm would come to him and that God would multiply him.  Jacob found himself in a situation that he was not sure of and he stopped and reminded God of all the promises God had made him.  God didn't get angry with Jacob - instead God confirmed His word to Jacob.

You see, the violent take it by force.  It's ours.  All the promises of God in Christ are yes!  He has already said yes to healing and yes to prosperity and yes to peace and yes to the desires of our heart.  He has already said yes, but sometimes we have to stand firm on that word and say it until we see it.  If we don't say it, we will never see it.  It must first be declared, just as it was when God created the earth.

What has God spoken to you?  Has it been a long time since you received that word?  If so, pull it out, dust it off and remind God of what He has said.  Put Him in remembrance of His word - state your case and He will confirm His word.  

God is waiting on those who are like Jacob, who are not afraid to wrestle for the blessing, Jacob wrestled and was told to let go - but he declared 'no, I won't let go until you bless me.'  We should be saying the same thing today - we should be saying 'God, You gave me this word and I won't let go of it until You bless me, until You cause it to manifest.'  That's faith.  That is violent and persistent faith - faith that won't be denied and faith pleases God - every single time.

Today, remind God of His word and wrestle with it until you see it come to pass - if you stand on His word, it will not fail.  

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

A few weeks ago, my daughter, my assistant and I were having a conversation about one of our authors – Catherine Harrison.  You see, Catherine Harrison is an amazing woman in my eyes.  She is a minister with an on-time message, all the time.  She is a mom, wife and she has a passion for skiing.  You may wonder what is so amazing about that, well, I will tell you, Catherine is blind.  I can’t even fathom the courage and faith it would take to ski blind, but she does it.  (You can read her article in our next issue of Fresh Outlook)

As we were talking about this amazing woman, my daughter made a statement.  She said ‘when you can’t see, you are forced to use senses that you wouldn’t normally tap into.’  Hmmm.  This comment has stayed on my mind for weeks. 

This past Saturday, my husband was taking me out of town as my Valentine’s gift.  We were headed to Helen, Georgia.  Georgia is south of us.  Bright and early Saturday morning we headed out, grabbed some breakfast and got out our directions.  Rocky and I were both surprised that our directions took us north.  We even turned around a few times and ask someone if we were going the right direction.  It seemed so odd to us that we were going to Georgia, which is south of us, but we headed north.  It went against our natural senses and what we thought we knew.  This brings me back to the statement about Catherine, ‘when you can’t see, you are forced to use senses that you wouldn’t normally tap into.’

Rocky and I had to trust the directions even though everything in us felt like we were going the wrong way.  Although we couldn’t see how we would arrive at our destination by going the opposite of what we felt, we had to trust our directions.

Have you ever been there?  Have you ever been going in a particular direction and suddenly it felt like you must be going the wrong way because everything seemed wrong?  I imagine that is how Joseph must have felt when God had given him this awesome dream and the next thing he knew he was sold into slavery and then ended up in prison.  He must have wondered if he had taken a wrong turn somewhere, don’t you think?

Or how about Moses, God sent him to free God’s people and told him exactly what to do and say.  Moses obeyed God and Pharaoh made it even harder on God’s people.  Moses must have had some thoughts from the enemy of ‘hey Moses, you were sent to deliver and you have made it harder for God’s people, are you sure you are doing the right thing?’

Have you ever been in a place where the more you prayed the worse the circumstances seemed to get?  Or have you ever been in a place where the more you sowed financially, the worse your finances got?  Or, have you been in a place where you were praying for healing and your symptoms worsened?  Of course, we all have.  But the truth is that if you weren’t going the right direction, there would be no battle.  

It is times like these that you have to tap into those senses that we may not be used to tapping into all the time.  You have to trust what and Who is on the inside of you.  You have to have faith in what you ‘know’ to be truth and refuse to look at the circumstances.  One thing I know – God is faithful.  Always and every single time.  If you refuse to get off the path He has started you on, He will make sure you arrive at your destination.  

But what normally happens with many Christians is that when the enemy starts to put blocks or hindrances in their path – they feel they are going the wrong way and they stop and go back.  Just because there is a hindrance doesn’t mean you are on the wrong path.  Stop if you must, but don’t go back, seek God, let Him reaffirm His word to you and then move forward.  The only way we don’t see our victory is if we quit and the enemy knows that.  That is why he tries so hard to get us to quit.  He knows when we make it to the other side; the victory belongs to us and everyone we bring with us.  

When you pray and things seem to get worse, pray more, intercede more, confess more – you may even want to add some fasting to it.  Remember, with Moses, all the things God had him do with his staff, he did some amazing things.  But, Pharaohs men did the same things.  It may seem that way in your life; every time you take a step the enemy is right there, issuing another attack.  Just as it was with Moses, the time will come when the enemy can’t mimic what God is doing, God’s power is greater – make no mistake about that.  But to get to that point you have to keep obeying God, especially when it feels like you are going the wrong way.  Trust your directions.  Trust the word the Lord gave you in the beginning.  Don’t doubt now, continue trusting.  Don’t make any decisions based on what you feel – make every decision based on the word of God. 

A friend of mine was making a decision the other day.  God had told her to quit her job and begin her own business, but she makes great money and was finally living on easy street, somewhere she had worked hard to get to.  Yet she knew God was telling her to quit and trust Him.  She phoned me that morning in distress about this and said ‘Kim, it make no sense in my mind.’  I responded by telling her that you can’t make a spiritual decision with your natural mind.  You have to tap into the mind of Christ.  So she made her decision and felt giddy like a little child once she made that move.

There are many things in the Bible that won’t make sense to your natural mind, but you have to trust God.  How could you march around a wall seven times and it fall down?  How could you spend the night with the lions and not be eaten?  How could a shepherd boy go up against a giant and defeat him?  I will tell you how.  God.  They chose to simply believe God and act on His Word, regardless of what they were facing – and God showed them His faithfulness.  

The same friend told me something God had shown her – let me share it with you.

If you want great patience – expect great trials 

If you want great wisdom – expect great trouble 

If you want great faith – you will at times find yourself on the brink of disaster 

If you want a great harvest – expect great work 

If you want a great ministry – expect great preparation 

This friend, she rides a motorcycle.  She told me that many women had come up to her and said they would love to ride a motorcycle, but they were afraid they would get hurt or die.  She questioned God about this and He replied to her… ‘They are not afraid to die; everybody dies, they are afraid to live.  It takes no courage to die; it takes great courage to live big.’

It takes no courage to turn back – it takes great courage to keep going when the road becomes the darkest.  My prayer for you today is that God will give you the ability to stand and persevere through every trial and come through to the other side, victorious.  Remember, Jesus never said, ‘let’s go half way’ – He only said ‘let’s go to the other side.’  And He did.  And you will too, if you trust in God, follow His direction, and refuse to get off the path.

In our world today, I see a desperate need for vision. It seems everywhere I look there is a lack of vision. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision God's people perish. This is a strong statement considering that many people have no vision. 

What is vision? While sight is a function of the eyes, vision comes from the heart. Our eyesight has limitations, a vision is limitless. For those who have a vision, that vision is more real to them than what they can see with their natural eyes. 

It was a vision that inspired the Wright brothers to build an airplane. It was a vision that inspired Thomas Edison to discover light. It was a vision that led Christopher Columbus to discover America. Nothing notable was ever done without first having a vision for it. 

Let's look again at Proverbs 29:18, without a vision My people perish. The full meaning of this scripture would say 'where there is no revelation of the future My people perish.'  Revelation of the future gives one hope - so I can fully understand how if you have no future to look forward to, you could very possibly perish, not literally, but in your heart.

You see, revelation and vision are often used interchangeably in the scripture. As I have written before, you must have a revelation of a particular scripture before you can walk in the benefits of that word. Years ago, I worked for Norvel Hayes Ministry, Dr. Norvel taught me two very valuable lessons: One, worship God, first and foremost. Second, if you can see it, you can have it. 

The second lesson has stuck with me for years. I knew that seeing it had everything to do with revelation. Therefore if the Spirit of the Lord would tell me something that was going to happen, and I couldn't see it with my spiritual eyes, I would meditate on what He had said until I could see it spiritually. I knew if I could see it spiritually, it was mine. 

When God spoke to me to create a magazine, something I had never attempted before, I couldn't see it with my spiritual eyes. I knew what the Bible said about a vision: write the vision and make it plain. Therefore I bought me a stack of white copy paper. I made a mock copy of a magazine. Now, keep in mind, all I had was blank paper. I stapled it together just like a magazine - now I had a blank book or magazine. Then I began to find articles similar to what I wanted in the magazine and I pasted them on the blank sheets of paper. 

I had the exact number of pages stapled together that I needed for a magazine, and I pasted articles and pictures until my magazine was filled. You see, I had done what the Bible instructed, I had written the vision and made it plain - now I could see it. Once I saw it, I knew I had it. And I did.

Your life is not an experiment, in fact your life is a book that has already been written. You have a purpose to fulfill, a personal purpose that no one else can complete. It's yours alone. God has taken His vision for your life and placed it within your heart. 

Your vision is your future - your destiny - and it is not ahead of you - it is within you. You have to draw it out to the point that you can see it and when you can see it, you can have it.

To me, nothing is more sad than someone who has lost their vision and has no hope of the future. When you have lost your vision, you simply relive past disappointments over and over. You simply live day to day with no hope of a better tomorrow, we see it everyday. A person without a vision can only see as far as their natural eyes - they only see their present circumstances. Oh, but a person with a vision! They can see farther than their natural eyes. They can see the plan of God for their lives. 

And to a person with a vision, that vision becomes more real to them than what they can see with their natural eyes. They see their future before it happens, they get a mental picture of their destiny and nothing is more powerful than that - it is a truth - if you can see it, you can have it. There is no force on earth that can stop a person with a vision.

As I said earlier, your life is a book, already written. Your vision, your purpose is already ordained by God. It is not something that doesn't exist, it was there all the time, it just hasn't been unveiled yet. One of the greatest gifts God gave to man was not sight, but vision. 

I remember a story I read about Walt Disney. Before he died, he was sitting looking out at a piece of land, One of his workers asked him what he was looking at. Walt Disney replied 'I am looking at my mountain.' In the natural, there was no mountain, only flat land, yet he sat there for hours looking at his mountain. So, the worker began to write what Walt was saying. After Walt Disney died and Space Mountain was built, when they dedicated it the speaker said that it was a pity that he never got to see it. Walt Disney's wife stood up and corrected the speaker and said 'Walt already saw this mountain, you are the ones who are seeing it for the first time.' 

That is a great description of one with a vision. A vision is the most powerful force you can imagine, it makes you persistent, it makes you go after your future, your destiny. Nothing can stop a man with a vision.

The Bible tells us to 'write the vision and make it plain.' Even as I write this I know there are people out there who once had a vision, yet due to life's disappointments, you have let that vision die. I have good news for you - it is not dead. If God gave you the vision, it is still full of life. Get it back out. Write it down. Make it plain. Put it before your eyes until you get a fresh revelation of it. Meditate on it until you 'see' it again. And know - the minute you see it - it is yours. 

What is your vision? Is it a wonderful marriage? Write it down and make it plain. Is it a new home? Write it down. Is it a world wide ministry? Write it down, make it plain. Is it a business that will financially build the Kingdom of God? Write it down, make it plain. There is great power in writing it down and keeping it before your eyes. Each time I have done that, my vision has been fulfilled and so will yours. My prayer for you today is that the vision of your heart will replace the limitations of your eyes.

Do this in remembrance of Me. 1 Cor. 11:24

I want to share with you today about the power of communion.  Most people are familiar with communion but generally only partake of communion on special occasions.  I want to show you the power in private communion.

The word communion itself means partnership, participation, intercourse and fellowship.  Just from the definition you can see that communion is a very intimate thing - it literally represents becoming one with Jesus.

It is also called the Cup of Blessing, which means the seal of the covenant - you can understand how a seal works - it covers, protects what is inside and lets nothing of the outside in. 

In Luke 22, we find Jesus greatly desired to eat this meal with His disciples before He went to the cross. Communion is all about the cross and what Jesus accomplished there - for me communion still holds great mysteries however, I have seen the power of the communion meal in my own life over and over again.

1 Corinthians 10:16 says the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, it is not the communion of the body of Christ?

What this scripture is saying is when we drink of our communion cup, whether you use grape juice or wine, you are drinking, becoming one with, fellowshipping with and becoming a partner with the blood of Christ.  When you eat the bread, you are becoming one with, fellowshipping with and becoming a partner with the body of Christ.  When you do that, you become one with all He accomplished at the cross.  You become partners with prosperity, healing, wholeness, soundness of mind and every other thing Jesus took back at the cross.

You become one with Him who bought back your entrance to live in the Garden of Eden and enjoy the good life Jesus has for you.  That's what you partner with in communion.

And you remember Him - the One who bought it all back - you honor Him, Jesus - you honor His body and His blood and as you do, all that was purchased at the cross is once again sealed for you.  The seal is applied as you partake of communion.

For me personally, communion has often broken the hold of the enemy in my life, especially where healing is concerned.  I want to tell about such a time.

Several years ago, I was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  The very next day, my leg began to swell.  Since I am not one who runs immediately to the doctor, I took it to God and ask what I should do about this.  He told me to trust Him.  So I did.  Over the next few days my leg began to look like something that needed to be removed.  My family was coming by daily to tell me if I didn't do something I would have to have my leg cut off.  A nurse came by and told me if I saw streaks going up my leg that would mean the poison had entered my blood stream and there would be no saving my leg at that point. 

After several days, the fever in my leg was almost unbearable, I had streaks up my leg from the poison in my blood and the pain was incredible.  My leg was twice the size of my other leg - quite a sight to behold.  I continued to confess Gods Word and His faithfulness.  One night, when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore - I cried out to God and said 'You are going to have to do something here; my daughter is beginning to worry.'  He said 'take communion.'

That night, I took communion; I received again all Jesus had purchased through His body for me.  I remembered Him and I sealed that covenant with His precious blood.  Then I went to bed, with my leg the same way it was before communion.

The next morning when I awoke, my leg was normal, you couldn't even tell I had ever been bitten, expect for a small speck which I still have on my leg today.  Through the finished work of the cross, represented by communion and the seal of His blood, every symptom left and wholeness came back to my leg. 

You know, all those people who had told me I was nuts and I would lose my leg, I went to see them that day - they stood in awe at the faithfulness of my God.  God got all the glory.

Communion is powerful.  Jesus desires that we partake of it often and I agree - the power of communion is unlimited.  It brings you closer to Jesus - you become one with Him - you partner with Him - you fellowship with Him and most of all you remember what He did for you and you not only receive it but seal it.

Take some time out this week for communion - you and Jesus in oneness - there's nothing else like it. 

As I was reading the book of Genesis the other day, I was reading about Abraham.  Remember when God told him to look out across the land, as far as he could see, that was what God was going to give him?  It's found in Genesis 13:17, I love that scripture - Dr. Norvel Hayes taught me years ago that if I could see it, I could have it and I have seen that happen in my life over and over.

But it doesn't stop with the seeing.  Let me explain.

The other day, my friend Deborah and I took a drive.  Sometimes the Lord will lead us to get in her vehicle and go for a ride - we don't normally know where and we questioned that in the beginning.  But what we have learned is that there is always a destination, always a reason and God will always meet us as we obey and go.

This time, she took me up a mountain - I love mountains, not as much as beaches but they are my second favorite.  This mountain was a high mountain and once we were on top, you could see forever, and I remembered that verse 'as for as the eye can see, that is what I will give you.'  I told Deborah, if God was going to tell me that, I want Him to take me up a mountain first, because you can see farther.  But, as I said, it doesn't stop with the seeing.

You see, just after God told Abraham that he would give him the land, as far as he could see, He followed that promise with instruction.  God told Abraham; Arise, walk the length and breadth of it, for I will give it to you.

Now that is a little different.  And the reason many people are not gaining land - they are not willing to put forth the effort to possess their land - even though all they have to do is walk across it.

Back to mine and Deborah's trip; if God had taken me on that particular mountain and said 'Kim, look out, as far as you can see, I am going to give you this land.'  I would have been excited.  It was beautiful land, green and lush, peaceful and quiet and stretched out forever.  I would have said 'great!  I love this land, thank you God!'  And if God continued to speak to me about the land and say; 'now, get out of this vehicle and walk the length and breadth of it, then it's yours.'  It would have stunned me for a moment.  I would have said 'but God, that will take days, do you realize how much land that is, it could take weeks?' 

Aha.  If I want the land that God has shown me, then I have to be willing to place my feet upon it - to walk through it - to claim it as mine - to make it my own.  There are always instructions to what God has given us and He has given us everything.  But we have to take it.  We can have an inheritance the size of Texas but if we never walk in it - it is worthless to us and will be passed on to another generation.

On the other hand, if we decide we are going to walk on our land - it is ours.  How do we walk on something that was given to us by the Spirit of God?  In the spirit.  We walk through our land through prayer and confession.  We walk across our land through giving.  We walk across our land through praise and worship.  We walk across our land through obedience to God.  We walk across our land through helping others - through making things happen for others.  That's how we walk out our land.

Abraham had a choice.  God told him to arise and walk across his land.  He could have said 'God that is just too hard, I am going to remain sitting.'  And he would never have received the inheritance he received, not only him, but his children and grandchildren after him.  It still flows down to us today - if we are willing to arise and take our land.

It's already ours - just walk on it - put your stamp on it - place your feet on it.  If you desire God to give you land - go walk on it - make it your own and then watch what God will do - it is already yours - take it.

He prepares me for battle; he strengthens me to draw a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:34

I was talking with my friend Deborah today and she shared a story with me that I found interesting, I am hoping you will too.  I believe this story is very relevant to where we are right now, spiritually speaking.

The story was about the time when the Winchester Rifle was first invented.  All the military had the rifles and they slaughtered many Indians.  The Indians were still fighting with bows and arrows and tomahawks.  The Indians decided that they would get some rifles, so they hijacked a train and got a whole train load of rifles. 

Now they had the same weapons the military had - just one problem.  The next battle between the Indians and the military ended again with many slaughtered Indians, why?  They had no idea how to use the rifles - although they now had a weapon as powerful as their enemy - they had no knowledge of how to use them - therefore they were still defeated.

This story caused me to think about the weapons we have been given - mighty weapons - weapons that are able to defeat every enemy, every time.  Yet, many Christians are being slaughtered because they don't use their weapons or they don't know how to use them.

 My husband is an Investigator and carries a couple guns with him, however, if he didn't know how to use them and he come against someone who wanted to destroy him, he would be in trouble.  But because he carries a gun and knows full well how to use it, he is not challenged in that area.

The Bible says are weapons are mighty and they pull down every stronghold.  This means our weapons can defeat every enemy.  What are our weapons? 

The Word of God is a powerful weapon - the Bible says that great power backs the Word of God.  It also says the Word of God will not return void - therefore wherever you send it, it will prosper.

The Name of Jesus is a powerful weapon - demons bow to that name.

Prayer is a powerful weapon - the Bible says the fervent prayers of a righteous man makes great power available.  The prayer of agreement is a weapon, the Bible says where two agree, it is done. 

Our mouth is a weapon - we speak forth the Word of God and darkness has to flee.  We tell the devil to go and he must obey - there is life and death in the power of our tongue.

2 Corinthians 10:4 says in the Message Bible:  We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds.  No, our weapons are not worldly - but they are mighty.  And they are to be used to defeat every enemy in our lives.  But to do that, we must know how to use them. 

The Bible gives us full instructions on how to use these weapons.  It's right there in print, we only have to study and begin to practice those weapons.  Psalm 18:34 tells us that God will teach us to battle.  If you seek His face, He will teach you to wage war against your enemy - but you must seek Him.

 Remember in the Old Testament, King David always sought God for strategies before every single battle.  He didn't assume that the same strategy that worked last time would work the next time, no he sought God for each battle.  And God gave Him specific instructions every time.  God is no respecter of persons - He will do the same for you.

You may find yourself in a battle today - the good news is you have all the weapons you need to win - and the better news is God will show you what weapons to use and how to use them - if you ask.  The Bible says God will liberally give us wisdom - He will even give us wisdom for battle.  And the best news of all - your weapons are much more powerful than anything the enemy has.

Don't be like the Indians of that time, weapons in hand and still defeated.  Gain knowledge and understanding of your weapons and then use them.  You will stand of awe of how much power you have in your hand and in your mouth - enough for victory every time.

I was listening to a story the other day by Kenneth Copeland.  He was talking about a time when his ministry kept receiving checks from another church.  Each week they kept coming and he finally called the Pastor of that church and asks him what was going on.

 The Pastor replied that he had made a statement from the pulpit, he had told his people as he took up the offering 'if there is another ministry that feeds your spirit, let us know, write their name on the bottom of your check and we will send part of the money to them.'  This Pastor told Kenneth Copeland that many of his people were writing Kenneth Copeland on their check so he sent him his part.

I thought it was an amazing story and it touched my heart that this Pastor was so honest and real with his people.  By the way, today, this church is one of the largest churches in the United States.

It reminded me of a time many years ago, when something similar happened to me.  I was attending a church in Knoxville; I actually worked for this church at the time.  Because I worked there, I attended their church even though it was a couple hours from my home.  Now, it was the church I attended, yet I was also listening to another minister and being fed at this other ministry.  Although Pastor Randy was a great Pastor, at that time in my life, I needed even more, and this other ministry fed my spirit.  It was simply the place my spirit was being fed for the place God was taking me.  I tithed at the church I attended - although I felt as if I was being fed by the other ministry.

This was just something I kept in my heart; I didn't mention it to anyone else.  One day, Pastor Randy came to me and said 'Kim, the Lord said you were to tithe at ... (he named the ministry I had been listening to.)  I was shocked that a Pastor would say such a thing first of all; I knew it had to be God or he wouldn't have said it.  The unselfishness of it amazed me.  He was more concerned about my spiritual appetite than he was my tithe. 

The remainder of the time I went to that church, I gave offerings there - but I tithed where I was fed.  Now, you may not agree with that - but it was what God had said and my Pastor gave his blessing.  So that is what I did.

There have been many times in my life that God has dealt with me personally about giving.  And sometimes it was odd to me - but I have always been blessed and God has always taken care of me.  No one ever had to tell me that I was to give an offering if a ministry was a blessing to me.  The Bible tells me to come to God with an offering - so I always did.  I simply had a heart to give and I knew I should give where my spirit was fed - it was simply the right thing to do.

One time I had made a one-time donation to a ministry.  Just a one-time offering.  Didn't think anything else about it.  They began to send me their monthly magazine and I really enjoyed it, I begun to look forward to getting it each month and when I did - I read every page.  One day, the Lord said 'do you like that magazine?'  I said 'yes, Lord, it's really a good magazine, I like it a lot.'   He said 'it costs money every month to send it out.'  I got the picture.  If I enjoy it, I should send them an offering each month.  So I did.  As faithfully as they sent me the word each month, I sent my offering.

1 Corinthians 9:11 in the Amplified says; If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?  God and His word has made it plain to me, if I receive spiritual food from a minister, I should, at least in return give them material benefits if it is in my hand to do so.  Not because the gospel is not free - it is, but it costs money to get it out there - and if they minister to me, then I should minister what I have to them.

Someone said to me today; 'it is a shame that a minister of the Gospel has to ask for an offering, we should know that we are to give.'  I totally agree.  Therefore I have asked God to make my heart sensitive to those who minister to me - who feed my spirit - I have asked God to remind me to pray for them - and to remember that it costs them a great deal to impart the word into my life and I should, at the very least, give them a portion of what I have...it's only right.  It is only right that I bless them as they bless me.

I know there are many people who minister to you - who feed your spirit each day - remember them today.  Say a prayer for them.  Ask God to strengthen them.  Don't be a taker - always sitting around getting fat and fluffy off the word that they are seeking God for, just for you - remember them as they remember you.  Give something back.  Tell your Pastor how much you appreciate their sacrifice.  Ask God to bless them with new revelation.  Ask God to strengthen them daily.  Ask God to bless them as they have blessed you.  It's not an easy job - it costs a great deal - let them know you appreciate it.

I have heard it said that the Gospel is free - but it is not cheap.  As a leader of this ministry, I know that to be a fact.  So the next time you pick up that magazine or listen to that free mp3 online or write in and ask another minister to pray for you, remember this; they have sown the seed of spiritual good to you - is it too much for you to send them a material benefit?  I don't think so.

Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what He said. Luke 10:39

I heard the oddest story the other day and I want to share it with you today.  I was speaking with an acquaintance and we saw a small grave where a dog was buried by their family.  She began to share with me how the dog had died.  She said the dog's owner was ill and used a morphine patch for pain.  It was a powerful patch and was released throughout his body.  His dog, who laid at his feet all the time, was his best friend.  As the man rested his feet against the dog, the morphine would release through his feet.  The morphine went from the masters feet into the little dog, the dog overdosed on pain medication and died. 

I had never heard of such a thing and I pondered it for a couple of days.  I do that a lot, as you already know.  It was so odd to me that a dog could die that way, by just being close to someone who took medication.  It was odd to me that what was in the body of the dog's master would transfer to the little dog so easily.

As I thought about all this, I remembered Mary.  Do you recall Mary and Martha?  Martha was always busy working and cleaning, trying to make sure everything was taken care of and done.  Her focus was on getting everything clean and cooking, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus - listening to Him.  Jesus said that Mary had chosen the good thing. 

I began to wonder - whose feet are we sitting at?  Are we sitting at the feet of our business or ministry?  Are we sitting at the feet of our children and loved ones?  Are we sitting at the feet of a job that consumes us each and every day?  Or - are we sitting at the feet of our Jesus? 

Just like this little dog, whatever we continually sit under, that is what will be imparted to us.  That is what we will be filled with.  That's what will make us or break us.  The thing that we are spending our time with - that's where our strength lies.

I often hear from people who need to hear from God on one thing or another but they won't make time to listen to Him, to sit at His feet and listen to Him.  How can you hear if you don't take time to listen? 

The man, the owner of the dog, he consumed morphine every day and lots of it - therefore that is what came out of his body.  What are you consuming daily?  If you consume hours and hours of television daily, the only power you will have will be to know what is happening on your favorite show.  You won't be hearing from God, you will only be hearing from the local network. 

If you spend your time, all your time, at your job, consumed with work and getting everything done - you may have a successful job - but you will have labor and you won't walk in the power and peace of God.  You have to find time for God.

If you own a business and it consumes you, you will eventually find that nothing is going right and things are beginning to fall apart - if you leave no time for God.  If you refuse to follow His lead, you will find only labor, no peace and no prosperity - at least not what God calls prosperity.

I tell people this all the time - it is vital to spend daily time with God.  People say 'oh, God is not really requiring that much time of me.'  Or 'God knows my schedule and He doesn't expect that of me.'  Yet, you will never walk with God without spending time with Him.  They go hand in hand.  What you seek, and only what you seek, you will find. 

Take some time today and sit at the feet of Jesus.  Choose the good thing.   Set aside time to talk to Him.  Don't ask for anything, don't take Him your list of needs, just talk to Him.  Listen to what He has to say.

Sometie we say we have a prayer time, and prayer time is good.  But we spend that time, every second of it, telling God what we need Him to do.  And then we say 'amen.' and walk away.  Without giving Him time to talk and without taking time to sit and listen.  What kind of relationship is that?

God desires a relationship with you.  If you want a successful life - seek God - every day.  If you want a successful business - seek God.  If you want a successful marriage - seek God.  Everything is found in Him.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God - and His way of doing things - and all these good things will be added to you. 

He is waiting for you today - stop whatever you are doing - sit at His feet and say 'God, I just want to hear Your voice today, speak to me, I have time to sit and be with You today, I wait upon You.'

Father, it is my prayer today that You put a desire in Your people to sit and listen to You today.  Give us a desire to sit at Your feet and hear Your voice.  Help us today to set aside time for you - to be with you - to build our relationship with You - to please You - to seek Your Kingdom and Your way of doing things - empower us to daily sit at Your feet.  Amen.