Additional thoughts on afflictions

I want to share additional thoughts on the topic of afflictions. Taking another look at the verse:
Psalm 119:67 " Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word". The psalmist is saying that Everything God says is Right. God is right 100% of the time, in all things, and in all ways. We may not like that statement b/c it cuts us to the core. We like to think we are in charge of our lives. The fact of the matter is we were never in control in the first place. Its interesting to listen to the Tony Robbins of the world say "Take control now!" "Its up to you to seize the day". The only thing that I am in control of is my attitude, and that's it. I choose to respond positively or negatively to all the circumstances and events that occur in my life, and so do you, period the END! God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans for your welfare and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" This is one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible. God, is saying to me "Alan, I have a plan for you that is right and perfect in My will. This plan has inside it a future and a hope just for you. MY plan has nothing but MY best in mind for you." He had my plan and your plan laid out long before the beginning of the world. We chose to get off that plan by engaging in our fleshy desires. We choose to not listen to His wise teaching. We choose to sin. There is a intersecting point where the right path and the wrong path reconnect. It's at this point where we transfer from our "worldly" path to the HIS path. God is working in and through our points of affliction by helping us realize He is all we need. I know this goes against the grain and its the opposite to what we think we need. You and I could agree that when we pray sometimes we pray for God to change a circumstance, a issue, or whatever we desire, but the reality is God doesn't always move when we ask. For example, we could say " Lord, change my spouse", "Change my financial situation so I can pay my bills", or "Change my health so I can feel better". I am confident what we should be praying is "Lord, Teach me your Word." Its seems to me that if we would let Him teach us and if we will hide His word in our hearts like He tells us we would be far better off than doing things our way. Have you ever thought that maybe God is looking down on us saying Why don't they trust Me? I have given them so many blessings. I have been there for them so many times. If they could just see what I see they would understand. We could all be living lives of victory and doing the work He intended us to do. One reason you may not have seen the change in your life just yet is because HE FIRST WANTS TO CHANGE YOU! He changes us by using our afflictions as a means to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto HIM. I believe this is very reason the Lord told Joshua to keep His commandments. God said to Joshua to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses gave to you. This book of instruction MUST not depart from your mouth; and you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. (Joshua 1:8). Here is the only key to true success, HIS WORD. God tells us exactly what we need to do in order to become successful. Forget success measured by worldly terms.

I hope this posting encourages you. My prayer today is that we learn to look through our trials, afflictions, and circumstances to see the hand of our King working. We can trust He is right 100% of the time regardless if we understand it or not. I appreciate you all. May God bless you and keep you and your families.



Until Next Time!!!

God Bless You All!!!!



Alan

Trials are not about us there about God!

When you think of personal trials what do you think of? Do you think of illness, financial troubles, business in the tank, loss of job, divorce, or even death? I think of these things but I have often wondered why this is happening to me. Why am I having to deal with this issue or that issue? Have you ever said any of the following "I thought things were fine. I thought things were heading in the right direction. I have been blessed. I am on top of the mountain. I am making more money than ever before. It's as if everything I touch turns to gold." I have definitely felt this way and said these very things. I was this person. I was building my business. We were on our way to financial freedom and much success. I began to believe one of the oldest lies in the world. You can do it and you don't need anyone to help you. You are powerful. I had put the Lord on the shelf and didn't want to do what He said. I relied more on my own effort than relying on Him. God showed me I was not in charge by taking it all away from me. He gave it to me and therefore He could take it away at will. God brought me to my knees. In the late summer of 2006 all of that changed. I met God early one morning in August on my patio. It was and is the most amazing moment in my life. My wife and I had recently decided to go back to church. I had just heard a message from the evangelist Junior Hill on humility. I made several comments to my wife that I was feeling things I have not felt before. That morning, I heard His voice say read 1st Peter 5:6. I doubted I heard it so I made my coffee and was about to let the dog out. I heard it again and this time I thought OK I'll read it. Once I read it I burst into tears. He had been calling me to change and I was running as fast as I could from Him. Well, you cannot out run God! It was from that day forward that my real journey began. I was turned upside down in every way possible. I did not know what was happening to me but I knew something was happening. I requested a meeting with a man, whom I love and deeply admire several days after that encounter. We met at my office and during that discussion he told me something that no one else had ever said to me. He said Alan, you have a authority problem. Not with your parents or the government but with God. I was moved so much by the honesty in his voice and the love he had for me to say something as difficult as this. I began to think about that statement. I had never thought of it like that before. He was right. I prayed and asked for forgiveness and my life has not been the same since. I am so thankful that I met God that day. I am thankful for my affliction. It has been through my affliction that God has communicated with me, changed me and begin to use me. He uses pain as a megaphone to wake up a sleeping world. Psalm 119:67 reads, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your Word." What does the psalmist mean by this verse. I believe he means that trials are sent to teach us things about God we would not learn any other way. Martin Luther once said he never learned the Word until he was afflicted. His sufferings were his best teacher. C.S. Lewis said "God whispers in our pleasure but He shouts in our pain." The psalmist is saying that his afflictions led him back to God, whereas he once lived for himself, but now he lived for the Lord. We as humans don't like to think about negative circumstances. I will testify to this right here and now. God worked in my life and continues to work in my life to manifest the needed changes and to encourage me to greater growth in Him. Praise the Lord!!!! God will not stop His work in you until it is complete. If you are in a painful situation right now, look to the Lord. He may be speaking to you. Pay Him the attention He deserves and commands. Trust Him! Psalm 34:19 offers this word of encouragement" Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Remember it not about you or me it's about GOD!! I hope you are encouraged by this message. I pray that God would reveal Himself to you today. I pray also that you would run to the cross and rest in Him. If this message touched your and you believe it would help someone else please forward it to them.

Until next time!!
God Bless You all!!!!

Alan

Every Word He says Is True!

I don't know about you but I could use a good ol'dose of truth and encouragement. I have been reflecting lately on God's faithfulness to mankind alike. You know He is faithful even when we are not faithful to Him. It got me thinking about the promises I make and those that get broken and God's promises to us. I make promises and don't keep them for a variety of reasons. Now, I am not saying I am a promise breaker all the time. I am a people person and I don't like to let anybody down. I like to think those promises get delayed b/c I get busy or distracted but truth of it is sometimes I just flat over commit. This got me thinking about the promises God makes to us. There are thousands of God's promises in the Bible. He never breaks a promise never! Every word God says is true.There are many words in the bible for "truth". One of the most important words for truth is the Hebrew word "Emet". Emet means stability, firmness, or certainty. Our word Amen comes from this word "Emet". When we say Amen we are really saying "It is certain!" God's faithfulness means that everything He says and does is certain because He is the truth. God is 100% reliable 100% of the time. He is the only One who says what He means and means what He says therefore doing everything He says He will do. Numbers 23:19 describes God this way "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" We won't find anyone in this world who is what he/she claims to be all the time. We'll have to look outside this world to discover that only God is who He claims to be all the time. To say God is faithful goes straight to the center of who God is. He keeps His promises because if He did not keep them He wouldn't be God. If He said it you can bet your life on it. Every part of God's word is true from the 1st to the last, and because God is faithful He keeps every promise He makes. 1st Thessalonians 5:24 says it this way" The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." I don't know about you but that makes me smile. It tells me that my King is truly sovereign, and nothing He says is wrong, late, early, or a broken promise. My prayer today is that we all seek His face more and more. We need Him desperately in this day and time. We need to trust Him in all things both large and small. We need to REST in the confidence that He does not break promises. He always delivers and Glory be to God for that very thing. If you enjoyed this message please forward to someone else. I appreciate all of you very much.

Until Next Time!!!
God Bless YOU!!!!!!!

Alan

Send the spirit of fear packin!

One of Satan's favorite weapons against us is the spirit of fear. He uses it every chance he gets. He knows the power it contains. You know what I mean right? The fear of the economy, job security, illness, loss of a loved one, violence, divorce, you name it. Satan and his minion want nothing more than for us to live in a paralyzed state. He realizes the more we focus on fear the less we focus on Christ. I have lived this way before and I am sure you have to. I realize we try hard to not let fear in but it creeps in despite. Fear is something we should not afraid of. We are children of the MOST HIGH, and as Christians we should be living a life of victory but instead we live in fear. God did not give us a fearful spirit. In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul reminds Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love, and self discipline. I believe we do more damage to ourselves than we do good. by listening to the lies. We can see, and hear God's promises for us yet we don't live like we are capable. A couple of days ago I wrote about renewing our strength in Christ. I know the more I take time everyday and renew my strength the better I feel and my outlook improves. We live in a fast paced world where it's all about the now. But it's up to us to slow down and take the time to renew our minds. Its not hard and doesn't take very long. There is a way to send this evil packin. I know a power that's way more powerful than fear. This power is sitting right under our noses. Do you know what power I am referring to? This complete power is the power of God's inerrant word. The most powerful weapon we have second only to prayer is the power of the scripture. If you want to defeat fear or whatever is thrown at you, use the WORD or as I like to call it the "TRUTH". Take a few minutes everyday and study the word let it resonate in your mind and settle in your heart. I didn't think I could learn the scripture let alone recall it when I needed it. But over time and with a little effort I have learned to memorize it. I have used it and it definitely works. I have used it to speak out boldly against Satan's lies towards me. I am referring to speaking out in my subconscious mind. This is where the real war is waging. Isaiah 41:10 is a perfect example of God's word that when used at the right time will send the enemy runnin for the hills. The Lord says "Do not fear for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My Righteous right hand". God always will give us the way of escape when we find ourselves in moments of fearfulness. Will you take it? I want to encourage you to take 5 minutes everyday and memorize a piece of scripture. The more you put in to learning the truth, the more God will reveal to you. I heard this so many times and always wondered if it worked. IT DOES!!!!!! You may be able to help a friend in need or a loved one. It's totally worth it. I hope you have been encouraged by this posting. If you have please forward it someone else. I appreciate all of you very much. If you want to learn God's word, ask Him to teach you. Its my pray today that we would all take time to learn the Word and hold firmly onto its power.

Until next time......
God Bless you all!!!!!!

Alan

When the attack comes?

Well, yesterday was a pretty good day. However, last night was a different story. I came under enemy fire. You know what I mean, right? Here's how it rolled out. I went to a men's dinner at my uncle's church and heard a great message. We had great fellowship and awesome food. BUT, on the way home I came under fire. I should have seen it coming but it was to late. Derek Discouragement and "Skinny"Franky Fear were waiting for me like bullies after school. They were going to beat on me like I was the new kid. I fought them off as long as I could. I mounted a counter offensive. We swapped licks for quite awhile. In the midst of the onslaught, I started praying like crazy. Lord, take this away from me. Please deliver me from these circumstances. Please Lord, keep these enemies at bay. Get me out of here I screamed! It all happened so fast. I wrote yesterday about not looking at your circumstances. I wrote about keeping your eyes on Christ despite the circumstances. I was doing the very thing I hoped not to do. I wrote about trusting God and I was letting their "dark talk" over come me. My mind was their playground and it was family day. All I could see was my failure, the hurt I caused my family, and the hurt I caused myself. Everything was wearing me out. My wife knew something was wrong. She asked me what was wrong. I gave her the stock answer Nothing. She was persistent though and kept after me. I eventually cracked. I shared the strain I was feeling and the pressure of this attack. She told me she loved me and gave me some much needed encouragement. Her words and love were like a soothing ointment on a burn. After we finished talking I felt better. I went on to bed and began praying. I was getting quiet before the Lord. Then I remembered what to do. Paul tells us to take our thoughts captive. So, I had to take their lies, and evil talk captive to the obedience of Christ. God would not do me that way. God would not say those things to me. I know God loves me and He has a great, perfect, and complete plan for me. I remembered my favorite verse Jeremiah 29:11. God tells us "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." If we look to God, and will renew our strength in Him we can face those Ol' Boys and others like them. Praise the Lord, for His abundant mercy, loving kindness, endless forgiveness and limitless strength. I know attacks will come and go. The question is will you believe what they say? I hope you won't. I hope you will stand firm. I hope you will remember what Paul did. I hope you will align yourself with a prayer partner. If you don't have one then send me a message and I will pray for you. I will stand with you. I hope your are encouraged by this posting. If you know of someone who could benefit from it, please send it to them. I appreciate all of you very much and thank you for your encouragement.

Until Next time....
God Bless You!!!!!

Alan

Do you trust Me?

When you face a crisis or a unpleasant situation what do you do? Do you look at it from many angles and analyze it? Do you seek wisdom from friends, family, or coworkers? Do you get paralyzed into non action? Do you seek the Lord? What do you do? If you're like me you see yourself in several of this descriptions. I have found the more I trust in the Lord the easier things become. Now, that does not mean there is no pain, no frustration, no hurt, and no sorrow. But what it does mean is that there is hope in our circumstances. Yes, hope in our circumstances! Alan, are you crazy? What do you mean hope in our circumstances? Proverbs 3:5 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding." The key here is trust. Do you trust the Lord? I mean real trust not the sugar coated answer you give when cornered. Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength."God is asking DO YOU TRUST ME? I struggle with that alot and have to remind myself that trust is a key to life. Do you think God won't or can't handle that crisis in your life? I have felt that way. Jesus tells us in Luke 18:27 "He replied what is impossible with men is possible with God." In Luke 1:37 the angel tells Mary "For nothing will be impossible for God". Did you see it? Nothing on heaven or earth will be impossible for God. This means there is nothing we will ever face that is impossible for God. However, we have to let Him take control of the situation. Ask Him to take over and trust He will. We can't do it alone. If you think you can handle it alone you are mistaken. The enemy wants you to think you can do it all on your own. I am here to tell you all you have to do is trust the Lord. The enemy wants to tell you that your situation will not change. He wants you to constantly look at the your circumstances. God wants us to look at Him and not the circumstances. Let me encourage you today to stop looking at your circumstances. Look at Christ instead. Let Him take over and renew your strength in Him. Its my prayer today to remember who is in charge, to seek His face in all things and trust Him with your whole being. Life is a journey and the first step in successful living is trusting Him. I am glad I serve a Sovereign King who is in charge ALL the time and always has my best interest at heart. He is never early nor never late. He is always right on time. Trust Me! He says. Will you?

I hope you are encouraged by this message. If you like it or know someone who would receive encouragement from it please forward it to them. I appreciate all you very much.

Until Next Time....
God Bless You!!!!

Alan

Spiritual Gifts! What's Your's

Did you know God gives each one of us a unique gift? Until 3 years ago, I did not know that at all. Frankly, there was so much about God I did not know and still so much more to discern. The things I knew were merely people, places and things. I did not know God let alone realize He has given each of us a unique gift. I learned about spiritual gifts through a mentor, and friend. I sought his council because I did not understand the things happening in my heart. God was calling me into His service but I had no idea where and why. I have felt that tugging at my heart strings for about 18 years now. I ran from it as fast as you could run from something. I felt inadequate, fearful, and selfish. I thought I can't do this. I thought serving God meant not having fun. Boy, was I wrong. I realize now I have been wrong about more things than I have been right. The bottom line was I did not want to give up my carnal lifestyle. I wanted to do what I want when I want. I was very selfish when it came to the needs of others. I always received satisfaction from helping others but I seemed to have ulterior motives. I mean to say that my motives were not pure. It wasn't about them as much as it was about look at what I am doing. The enemy had me convinced this was the right attitude. My subconscious mind would agree that I needed and loved to help people but, I would gripe, complain, and be critical of their needs. I have lived 30 plus years doing things my way. I realized it wasn't about me but it is about HIM. I knew something had to give. I repaired my relationship with God first. I prayed for forgiveness for the way I lived my life, and repented of my sins. I then started the journey of learning everything I can about Christ, and what He has given me. Once I discovered my gift of encouragement I wanted to use it right away. But those Ol' familiar feelings of fear, and doubt prohibited me from getting started. I did not know how to get started. All I knew was it was time for me to use my gift in the King's service. Time for me to use my gift of encouragement regardless if anyone ever said thanks Alan or read this blog. So, I started this blog as means of being faithful and obedient. Paul tells us in First Corinthians 12:4-7 "Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial" Holman Translation. Let me encourage each one of you to take a few minutes and discover what your unique gift is. You will be surprised. I took two different tests to validate my findings. You can google spiritual gifts and several sites will come up with links to taking the assessment. You could also go to www.bellevue.org and take that assessment. Regardless where you go, please take it. Change your life now by uncovering and using what God has blessed you with. Remember, Its all about Him and not about us.

Until Next Time....

God Bless You!!

Alan