Never Give Up

Have you ever had one of those days that everything seemed to go wrong?  If you’ve lived at all, I already know the answer. Sometimes in life, there will times it seems circumstances take a turn for the worse at the most inopportune time. Such was the case when the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Tennessee Volunteers recently. Even though the score was close, Alabama was in control for most of the game when the unthinkable happened. Their best running back, who had never lost a fumble in his college career, turned the ball over and Tennessee recovered. Then they went down the field, something they had not been able to do all day and scored a touchdown. Next, they recovered an onside kick and drove the ball down into Alabama territory setting up for a potential game winning field goal.  I then said to myself, well, we’ve lost this one. Surely Alabama could not block another field goal like they had done previously in the game; but they did and were victorious.

Isn’t it funny how the Lord uses everyday natural events as a teachable moment?  There was a moment of uncertainty in the football game, because no one knew what the outcome would be until the end. But God has declared our end from the beginning! Guess what! We Win!!. The Bible says we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord. With God on our side, what can man do to us. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.  With God, nothing is impossible. All things are possible to him who believes. If we can believe, all things are possible! 

The question is, can we maintain our faith even though it looks like we’re losing? Can we face adversity with the assurance that he who has begun a good work in us, will complete what he started? The answer is “Yes We Can“.  God would not ask us to do anything that he would not equip us to do.  My brother, my sister, you do have what it takes. Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might, and let him take you from victory to victory and from glory to glory.

Making Peace

 Peace can be defined as the absence of chaos. It is a state of harmony, tranquility, or serenity. There is a freedom associated with peace. It represents freedom from civil commotion, or, in it’s simplest terms, everyone getting along. To be at peace does not necessarily mean never disagreeing with someone. There will be times when peace will have to be “made”. It is in those difficult times, when chaos would be expected, that we as children of God must choose to make peace.

“ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5: 9 (KJV)

 Jesus spoke these words in his teaching that is commonly referred to as the “Beattitudes”. In other words, he was teaching his disciples to “be like this…” Note that he said peacemakers shall be called the children of God. The distinguishing mark of a believer should be that when he or she shows up, peace comes with them. After all, we do call our Lord the Prince of Peace. That’s one of the ways others will know that we’ve been with Jesus.

Unfortunately, many believers are not equipped to bring peace because they are simply not nice people. Not you, but I’m sure you’ve met someone like this. People should love to see us coming. They should enjoy us doing business with them, going to their restaurant, or buying their merchandise. But sometimes, we’re so rude, or just plain mean, that they’d rather deal with “sinners”. These things should not be. We’ll run a waiter or waitress crazy all evening and then leave them a dollar tip like we’ve just sown a huge seed in their life. I wonder what they’re calling us. I promise you, it’s not the children of God.

 Our co-workers should recognize us as the voice of righteous consciousness. We are the ones who bring quiet strength and truth to any situation. We take the lead in diffusing potential hostile situations with the peace of God which rules our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is that peace which many seek today. What better way to witness to someone than with a life of peace. We might not be like Mike (Jordan), but we are of Christ, the Anointed one, who removes burdens and destroys yokes.

© Fredrick F. Nicholson all right reserved

Confessions For Provision

 I look to the Lord Most High, who is my source. As Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place of his provision, so I look unto the Lord who will see to it that all my needs are met and I am abundantly supplied. (Gen 22: 4)

 Both riches and honor come from the Lord and in his hand is power and might. The Lord makes me great and gives me strength. (1 Chronicles 29:12)

As I bring my tithes, offerings, and precious seed into the house of the Lord, I have enough in my house, with plenty left over and that which is left is great abundance. (2 Chronicles 31:10)

My cheerful, heartfelt, prompt to do it, obedient giving comes up for a memorial before my Father God. He takes note of it and immediately arranges provision for whatever area I am lacking. He is the air traffic controller of my destiny; placing people I don’t even know in my path to bless me. (Acts 10:4, 20-22.)

As I seek the Lord daily, and make supplication to the Almighty with a pure and upright heart, he will arise for me and make my righteous house prosperous. (Job 8:5-7)

He has crowned my year with goodness and his paths drop fatness. (Psalms 65:11)

 In all my ways, I acknowledge him, and He directs my paths. I turn not to the right hand or to the left, for my steps are ordered by the Lord, and I delight as I walk in them. Where the Lord leads me is as a shining light, that shines brighter and brighter unto a perfect day. I diligently seek the wisdom of God in all things. His wisdom brings riches and honor that will endure. My love for the wisdom of God causes me to inherit substance and my bank accounts are full. Wisdom was with God in the beginning; it is the Lord’s delight to give it to me. (Proverbs 8: 17-18, 30-31; Psalms 16:3)

My God is not a slot machine. He is not a God of chance; He is a God of precepts, principles and promises. I must do my part. Therefore, I prepare the ground of my heart, as a farmer tills the soil; I nurture my heart with his word, and guard it, keeping out anything that will stop my harvest. So shall I have plenty. I remain faithful and I abound with blessings. (Proverbs 28:19-20)

I do not strive for wealth, but rather, I choose to enter into rest; peace, undisturbed composure; for the works were finished from the foundation of the world. I have an ear to hear the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am making progress; my life is changing for the better. I am always advancing and improving because I mix faith with the word that is preached. Thereby, I receive grace and obtain mercy; the many sides of God’s grace cover me in good time for every need. As a result of my rest in Him, I am abundantly supplied. (Hebrews 3:18 – 4:16)

What [Chew] Looking At?

If you’re a male, you’ve probably heard this before. If you’re a female, you’ve probably said it before.  Ladies, remember back in school when a guy would be staring at you? You were not at all interested in him, and said “What [chew] looking at? Well, he was not really looking at you. He was envisioning a future (of some kind) with you. He saw himself getting your phone number, calling you, and  making you his girlfriend. He saw himself carrying your books, walking you home from school. He saw the two of you going out on a date; all of that within a few seconds. That is, until you shot his vision down with your comment. Or maybe your comments didn’t phase him.  Maybe he was persistent and confident enough that he finally won you over.

Abraham was facing an even greater circumstance when God told him to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him on a mountain he would show him on his way. His response was to lift up his eyes. On the surface it appears that he lifted up his eyes and saw the place God told him to kill his son. What he actually saw was God reformulating the charred ashes of Isaac’s body into flesh and restoring Isaac back to life. Abraham had a promise that through him the whole earth would be blessed and his descendants would outnumber the stars. Isaac was the seed of promise, so that meant that God had to raise him from the dead. In the end, Abraham did not have to kill his son. God stopped him and he lifted up his eyes again and saw provision.

In your life, what are you looking at? Are you focused on your current situation, or can you see your deliverance at a distance? Is God Almighty credible enough for you to believe Him in spite of your seemingly “hopeless situation? Just as the young man didn’t allow your snide comments to dampen his spirits and Abraham didn’t let the imminent death of his son stop him from obeying God, so should your determination and conviction be in knowing that your deliverance is at hand. Lift up your heads and the King of Glory (with his entourage) shall come in.

By the way, Abraham did in fact see a resurrection, but it was not Isaac’s , it was Jesus!

John 8:56
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”

Who Are You Listening to?

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes.” Isaiah 54:2 (KJV)

It’s hard to sing when things are not going well with you, but that’s just what the prophet Isaiah prescribes specifically for those of us that may be going through tough times. He calls for the barren, the ones seemingly producing no fruit; to praise the Lord and prepare to be blessed by enlarging their tents and  making room for prosperity to move in.

Many of us lay in wait for God to do something miraculous, giving way to frustration and oppression when nothing seems to be happening. How do we enlarge our tents? What steps do we take to prepare to be blessed when our mindset has been stymied with doubt and unbelief? Lord can you show me somebody this has worked for already? Make it believable for me in my life! 

You need look no further than right where you are; the local fellowship, the church where God has placed you. The prophet Isaiah gives several instructions in our selected verse for today. Let’s focus on the instruction number two; “…let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations…”  Who is them?  You have to read all the way back to the beginning of chapter fifty-three to find the answer.

“Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm (power) of the Lord revealed?”

You must be submitted to your prophet of God in your local fellowship through whom the power of God has been revealed.  Then you must decide to let your prophet raise your level of thinking; expanding your mind and taking the limits off God. How big can you imagine?  Believe in the Lord and you will be established. Believe his prophet and you will prosper.

“Them” also includes fellow believers through whom the power of the Lord has been revealed. That’s why it’s so important to go to church and fellowship with the saints. God wants us to see people besides “pastor” who have worked the principles; who have been down and God raised them up. We have spent enough time listening to people on the same level (or worse) than we are. How about listening to those who have “been there” and “done that”?  I guarantee you this, you’ll never come in contact with “them” at home.

©Fredrick F. Nicholson all rights reserved