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Hope and Outlook

A public school teacher from our home church was talking with one of her students. The boy said that since his father was in prison, he would likely be in prison. She simply told him that he did not have to be in prison just because his father was. His response was, “I never thought of that.” The teacher only had to speak something that you might think could be left unsaid because it should be obvious. But for a boy who lived in an environment without hope, a simple word of encouragement changed his whole outlook. Just because something has been, even for a long time, does not mean it is a given for the future. Through Christ our Lord, we are free from what has been and have hope for what shall be.   Gal.4:5,7-Msg “Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. 7 . . .And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.”

Needing to Know

Melissa— It came to me that to actually trust God meant to actually let go of needing to know the process of getting to an answer. I’ve never functioned like that. Unfortunately my M.O. has been to ask and believe for a God-outcome while all along fixating on my logic’s only conclusion as to how that could happen. That, my friends, will WEAR. YOU. OUT. In that moment it felt good, it felt right to let go, and something in me took a deep breath for the first time.

Blessed are They That Mourn

KATHY–“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be drawn into the Lord’s comfort.” It seems illogical that anyone would not welcome comfort. But comfort requires change and change is not always welcomed. As hard as grief is, change is sometimes harder. But wounds do not heal unless we receive comfort.

Above all Things

All things are possible with God. The sticky part about that is, we believe the things that are possible are the things we can conceive. But ALL things are possible with God whether they are those we can imagine or those beyond our realm of knowledge and experience. Eph.3:20 “above all we ask or think”

You Can Fast Fear

Melissa — Hey, you can fast fear! It’s true! Set your mind to it and watch how aware you become of fear in your life.  It’s amazing how interwoven that stinker is.  But when you become aware, you can do something about it.  You can take your rightful place in the driver’s seat by forcing fear out.  Ask the Holy Spirit to point it out, then you replace it with truth.  You replace fear with God’s original intent for your life, thoughts of peace to give you an expected end (Jer. 29:11).  This is not necessarily an overnight change, it takes time.  It’s a process well worth it, but you can still be an agent of change in the middle of your process.  How? By listening to the Father and doing/saying what He tells you (John 5:19).

Defeat the Lion

KATHY–Sometimes we consider running away when the lion comes. But if we don’t persevere and defeat the lion in our face today (if we don’t defeat the strong mindsets and the rage that’s trying to rob us of purpose today), we won’t be equipped to face the bear. Then if we don’t confront the bear or the negative attitudes, unresolved offenses, flaws, they will hibernate then cycle back and cause trouble again. (Matt.24:13)

Eyes Open Wider

As the people of God assemble today may their eyes open even wider to the wonders of their God and to His plans in this earth and to His grace that enables His sons and daughters to overcome and reign in life. Rom.5:17, TPT — “Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!”

The Nation is Ripe

This nation is likely riper than it has ever been. It is probably riper than it was in the 1960’s when there was so much turmoil and chaos with the rioting and unrest. We are sons and daughters of God, there is a harvest and Isaiah says that God has harvesters and gatherers who can bring it in. There is a harvest of souls, of people who are fed up with chaos and lawlessness, misinformation and lies and the consequences of unrighteousness. There are people who are ready to be reached, ready to be loved, ready for peace in their lives.

Band-Aids and Cures

MELISSA — There is a tendency in each of us to get tunnel visioned, and self-focused. Actually, it is somewhat of a plague in our western culture. There are plenty of seemingly good reasons to get this way: the down spiral of society, diseases with no names or cures, economic decline, etc. With such looming danger it is easy to see why our scope narrows to personal and family survival. The problem is this, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) He provided the cure for all of the above mentioned epidemics, and that cure is inside of us according to 2 Peter. There are pieces obviously missing in our lives if we are living by apocalyptic survival strategies daily. There are dots not connected if we are investing in “band-aids” while the cure dwells inside of us.

Trust and Learn

Kathy Gabler — If you have had strategic God-to-Man, prophetic communications that you found out later were insights that you hadn’t understood up front, don’t grieve and beat yourself up over that.  Again, factor in God’s nature.  Does He intend us to live in regret?  No, He is our Redeemer who buys back lost opportunities.  His nature is unchanging and we can trust our Redeemer and learn from such experiences.