by Jeanie | Jan 11, 2010 | Uncategorised
Last time, I told you that it pays to obey God and encouraged you to do so. What I didn’t tell you then is that leading a life of obedience begins with a choice.
No one goes through life accepting everything that’s thrown at them or comes their way. So, there comes a time in life when you need to make a choice. Some of us even from a very young age have liked some places better than others, placed value on things more highly than people, loved rice more than beans; you get the drift? Whether you call it choice, preference or option, it doesn’t matter. What really does is that you carefully and thoughtfully select what is by standard, the most beneficial.
Moses was admonishing the people of God to keep the words of the Covenant. He said:
Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do. Deuteronomy 29:9
The first thing I want you to note today is that choices have consequences – positive and negative. For example, in the above passage Moses tells them they’ll prosper when they obey, that’s the positive, the benefit! Verses 16-29 however records the negative, the penalty those whose hearts turn away from the Lord would face. Friend, we could from this conclude that the condition of your life right now, whether good or bad is a product of your choice. So, choose wisely!
Moses continues:
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:19
I could imagine him stand on top of a rock as the people gather closely, look up and listen attentively, just like my Pastor will mount the pulpit to preach while the congregation sit quietly in the pews with their pen and notepads. He preaches: You have the ability or opportunity to decide the outcome of your life. It is in your best interest to adhere to these terms which would only do you good and not bad if you choose blessing over cursing, life over death. I am not to be blamed if you do otherwise. Decide!
Jesus on this subject said:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
One of the meanings of the word “despise” is to look down on. So, you can have a high opinion of one and look down on the other, God or mammon. Friend, just like Moses did the people of God then, so do I urge you today. I don’t know what life has tabled before you but one thing is sure, both things are not as important as the other. Hence you need to make preference and place them in order of priority.
Before you reach that decision, begin to evaluate. Eg. Which is more important – Short term/ Long term? Waking early to seek God and set the tone for your day or getting more rest by sleeping a little longer to wake just in time to get ready for work. Both are important, but one is more important. You choose which!
Related Journals:
Choose – Part 2
Choose – Part 3
by Jeanie | Jan 4, 2010 | Uncategorised
Dear Friend,
I personally want to wish you a Happy New Year. I trust that the Lord is doing an awesome work in your life. I am looking forward to the many more marvellous things that he will do as you continue to hear and heed to the words that you receive.
I believe that 2010 will be your year of exponential increase! Where the Lord has planned to take you is way beyond your imagination; it’s exceeding, abundantly above all you’ve ever asked, will ask or even think. In order to get there, there is one thing you must do.
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1
You’ve got to obey God and you must do it carefully, firmly and fully! You can’t do it haphazardly, picking and choosing what you want to do; a bit here, a bit there, No! If you want God to set you on high, then absolute obedience is what he demands of you. Here is yet another word to support the former:
If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19
I don’t know about you but I want to eat the good, not the bad of the land. I don’t just want to get in the flow with everybody else when I can be in the overflow, I don’t want to be beneath when I can be above; I want the good, the blessed, the best of the land!
It pays to obey God. It is only when you obey, that the blessings of the Lord come on you and overtake you (Deuteronomy 28:2). Obey him today and watch the heights he’ll take you.
Click here to stream or download a message I preached on obedience. I trust it’ll encourage you.
Yours in Him,
Jeanie
by Jeanie | Nov 19, 2009 | Uncategorised
I was speaking at a service on Sunday afternoon and at one point, mentioned how God provided coverings for Adam and Eve. These are people who were once clothed in glory but as a result of their disobedience became naked and ashamed.
When one is naked, they’re unprotected, exposed, open and therefore more susceptible to danger; they can easily be infected and/or affected by anything and this can result in them being defenceless, powerless and ultimately a laughingstock.
And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies: Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus 32:25-26
I want to you to understand that you are guaranteed power over the enemy and protection from his evil plans only when you leave the ways of this world and cling to God. You have to be on the Lord’s side. Amen? His weapons may form, but they won’t prosper.
The Scripture also records that Adam and Eve were ashamed. They must have been thinking about what they’d done and where it’d landed them. I could imagine them reminiscing on the grace they bountifully enjoyed, God’s favour upon their lives; their lost authority, their stripped special designer (superior to Joseph’s), and worse of all, facing eviction from their beautiful garden in the presence of the enemy, what a disgrace! But in his great mercy and love,
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
If they lived to this day, you’d hear them say:
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
You that live today, what do you say? You ought to be grateful that the Lord hasn’t stopped covering you.
He has sent me] to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of [tears of] grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. Isaiah 61:3a
You must learn to thank him for all those times he put a garment of praise on you to relieve you of the spirit of heaviness. I’m talking about those times you felt stripped of your strength, weighed down and ashamed. He covered you and he’s still covering you, here’s why:
They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the LORD, so that he might display his glory. Isaiah 61:3b
God is not glorified when you’re naked and ashamed; come to him, come to Zion, come to the strong hold and be safe.
by Jeanie | Aug 28, 2009 | Uncategorised
Hello Friend,
I know it’s been such a long time but praise the Lord, I am back online! So, let’s get into the word. There is something about this time and season that we live in; I don’t fully understand it but I am asking God to give me an understanding like he gave the sons of Issachar. The bible says:
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11
We are predestined according to God’s plan; this is what the scripture says. In life, for any objective, complex or simple to be successfully accomplished, a plan or a proposed course of action is usually required. In a standard plan, you’ll notice sections like:
- The objectives.
- The activities or tasks to be carried out in order to reach the objectives.
- The timeframe to accomplish the tasks.
- The task owner.
For example, after the fall of man, God had an objective to redeem man back to himself and to do that, the situation of Augustus ordering a census, Mary conceiving of the Holy ghost, Joseph wanting to put her away, Zacharias receiving a revelation, Elizabeth the old and barren conceiving, John the Baptist preaching, Jesus going to Calvary, had to occur. All these happened in appointed times, the ultimate task owner being Jesus.
But when the right time came, God sent his Son [into the world]. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God’s laws. Galatians 4:4
God (task owner) has a plan for our lives, we know! We all often quote:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Can you see from this very text that there are specific things (Objectives) that God wants to accomplish in your life? He actually outlines them! Paul said, he works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
He works out everything and causes all things to work together for our good (Activities). All those times you ailed, cried, laughed, starved, lacked, gave, served, fasted, prayed; these are all activities in the plan and they’re being worked out. Regarding timeframes, here’s what Solomon had to say:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11
I want you to take a few moments to talk to God, praise him for the plans he has for you, thank him for every part of the plan including those you may not understand; he’s one task owner that delivers without fail; for he who has promised is faithful and he will do it. Halleluyah!
by Jeanie | Aug 1, 2009 | Uncategorised
There is a sound; it’s the sound of abundance of rain. You may say how can it rain when I see no cloud in the air? There is no sign. Be not like the Pharisees, don’t be plagued by unbelief, rise up in faith, and hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering; for He who promised is faithful. Did he not promise to give you rain in due season so that your land yields its increase, and the trees of the field their fruit?
There is a sound; it’s the sound of abundance of rain. The LORD is opening for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the works of your hands; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
There is a sound; it’s the sound of abundance of rain. Yes, it’s a heavy shower and not a light sprinkle. Get ready! Get ready!! Get ready!!! Open up your tanks. People of Zion, celebrate in honor of the LORD your God!
He is generous and has sent the autumn and spring rains in the proper seasons. Grain will cover your threshing places; jars will overflow with wine and olive oil. I, the LORD your God, will make up for the losses caused by those swarms and swarms of locusts I sent to attack you. My people, you will eat until you are satisfied. Then you will praise me for the wonderful things I have done. Never again will you be put to shame. My child, you will know that I stand at your side. I am the LORD your God, there are no other gods. Never again will you be put to shame.
So, keep praying though it seems as if the windows of heaven are shut, don’t give up! I know you’ve checked a few times and have seen nothing. Go back again! What do you see? A cloud as small as a man’s hand? Or the sky becoming black with clouds and wind? I am watching over my word to perform it, and it shall be done to you according to your faith.
by Jeanie | Jul 13, 2009 | Uncategorised
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3
What does it mean to be blessed? How does it feel to be withered? Why would Jesus call forward the man with a withered hand, in the midst of a crowd? What could this possibly mean? These are areas that we’ve looked at in the previous journal.
I had a B-grade in Agricultural Science – GCSE level, hence I know that amongst the few nutrients a plant needs not to wither, is sunlight and water; and if the plant be withered, exposure to sunlight and watering it, revives and causes it to begin to open up, stretch out, spread out, blossom and consequently bear fruit. No wonder the scripture tells us that a blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing its fruits in season.
Positioning! This has got to do with where you’re at. You’ve got to be by the streams of water, the river of life. The man
with the withered hand was at the temple where Jesus, the sun of righteousness and living water was. Friend, let me ask you, are you connected? Are you planted? Jesus said:
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2
When things become withered they begin to contract and dwindle rather than flourish and vegetate; instead of moving, they become stagnant. Jesus in his omniscience knows this and therefore commands this man to stretch forth his hand! In essence, he was saying: begin to extend, increase, prosper; I release you to skip about, you’re no longer limited, I am healing you, I am restoring order, I am blessing the works of your hands, stretch forth your hand!
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree; He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12
Friend, it is not God’s will for you to have withered reputation, relationship, academics, career, business, family and finances. No! And so I command everything withered in your life to blossom, any area of your life that is closed, to open up, stretch forth, go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. Friend, you will prosper, increase and succeed in Jesus Name, Amen!
Related journal:
Blessed!
