| Dan Cheatham 4-30-2014: Faith, Church, Protection |
 |
Above is a photo of our dog, "Queen LaTAFFY!" Or at least she THINKS she is a queen! (I guess Taffy is saying here, "GET YOUR OWN STUFFED ANIMAL! THIS ONE IS ALL MINE!")
"And Peter beginning to sink..." (See Matthew 14:22-33) Last time I checked, if someone is standing atop water, they don't BEGIN to sink, they just IMMEDIATELY SINK! But the scripture says IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR PETER TO START THE SINKING PROCESS! O wow! First Peter was focused on nothing but the face of Jesus and the words of Jesus to "come." Peter only began noticing himself SLOWLY sinking as he became distracted by the wind and waves. (I'm quite sure he began to reason, saying inside himself, "What in the world do I think I'm doing? What have i gotten myself into?" To me what is really cool about all this is that it shows different levels of FAITH INTENSITY: Intense, Abandoned and Specific as opposed to Distracted, Hesitant and General. Fear polluted Peter's faith... but it took awhile! Faith was the stronger force! Like us, Peter struggled to keep his faith focused and intense and stayed upon the Lord FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. But after Jesus lifted him from the water, Peter's faith and confidence in the Lord was restored back to him once again, enabling him to walk back to the ship with Jesus at His side. There is no record that Jesus "carried" Peter back. On the contrary Peter WALKED BACK still atop the water... maybe hand in hand with Jesus, but still atop the waves... along with Jesus who was also atop the water! Glory! YOU CAN FAITH-WALK AGAIN! I CAN FAITH-WALK AGAIN! If you feel like your faith has gotten you OUT THERE in the place of no return, just know that He is OUT THERE with you and proud of you for having stepped out of your comfort zone!
I'm a FAITH-WALKER! I'm a WORD-TALKER!
I'm going to FAITH-WALK once again! Maybe I began to sink after a while of intense battle or extended waiting, but I'm going to FAITH-WALK AGAIN!
I dare to venture OUT THERE AGAIN!
I hate the boredom and tameness and lameness of doubt, fear, unbelief and INDECISION! Hate it! Abhor it! Can't live there! Detest it!
I choose the ADVENTURE OF FAITH, albeit risky sometimes! But OUT THERE is where HE IS! He loves it when I BELIEVE HIM AND STEP OUT BOLDLY on nothing but His Word and His prompting!
There are MANY MANY TOUCHES and DEPOSITS from God that can ONLY be received in a live corporate setting such as a church service! Some of these touches from God that come while we are gathered together are subtle yet significant and some can even be sensational. But many of these TOUCHES cannot be received in private while reading our Bibles or praying. Vice versa is also true. Failing to ASSEMBLE on a regular basis is a recipe for missing ingredients in our lives! If you want to be a lopsided unbalanced believer, don't attend church. Instead just be a Lone Ranger Christian, and an easy target for the enemy. You THINK you stand, but watch out!
About the time you think you're on spiritual cruise control, the enemy will craft a calamity that throws you off your game. When this happens, you had better ALREADY be established in a local church and in the basic disciplines of prayer and Bible reading lest the enemy make you bitter and cold in your heart towards God.
Spend PLENTY of time thanking God for all your many blessings by name! Tell him aloud all the simple things and spiritual things you are grateful for. Be specific... name them back to Him! Consider listing them on paper or a journal or on a computer note. Be appreciative! Be grateful! Give thanks!
Deuteronomy 33:12 (KJV) - ...The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Since I am my beloved's, like the verse above promises, I choose to DWELL IN SAFETY by Him! He is my daily safety for both and all my significant others! The Lord COVERS ME all day long. I am covered by Him and smothered on His love! He carries me like a lamb on His shoulders!
The Lord is my PHYSICAL SAFETY!
The Lord is my SPIRITUAL SAFETY keeping me from believing the wrong things and the wrong people.
The Lord is my MENTAL SAFETY, keeping me thinking the thoughts of God instead of carnal thoughts and the thought suggestions of Satan.
The Lord is my EMOTIONAL SAFETY, keeping me from obeying fickle emotional impulses and unauthorized desires.
The Lord is my MORAL SAFETY!
The Lord is my FINANCIAL SAFETY, keeping me tithing, continuing to multiy my seeds sown, and giving me the mind of Christ in my spending, saving, investing, and giving.
The Lord is my SOCIAL SAFETY, protecting me from connecting to and trusting the wrong people.
Lord, I BELIEVE YOU FOR SUPERNATURAL SAFETY at all times and in all realms of my life! The devil cannot take me out early! I will finish my assignment from God on this earth and live long and stay strong for the glory of God!
BELIEVE HIM for SUPERNATURAL SAFETY! Release your faith by the words of your mouth for this AWESOME PROMISE in His covenant with you.
Overdose on Psalm 91.
A grateful person cannot be stopped! One who is constantly telling God and others "THANKS" becomes indomitable and irresistible, because of his or her contagious attitude!
You are SO VERY BLESSED... ALREADY! I challenge you to make a list of your many blessings and also your glaring liabilities. No doubt you will discover you have infinitely more things to be be thankful for than to be discouraged about!
Stop the PITY-PARTY! You're not the only one on the planet facing some real obstacles and painful realities!
Stop the SELF-CENTERED FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF! Tell The Father you are sorry for this sin or habit of ingratitude and that from now on, with His help and grace, you are going to FOCUS on your many blessings and VERBALIZE them daily to Him!
THIS IS A COMMAND, NOT A SUGGESTION: Psalms 150:6 (KJV) - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
THIS IS A DECISION, NOT A FEELING: Psalms 104:33 (KJV) - I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
THIS IS A COMMAND, NOT A SUGGESTION: Philippians 4:4 (KJV) - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
THIS IS A COMMAND, NOT A SUGGESTION: Philippians 4:4 (MSG) - Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! |
|
|
