Monday, October 31, 2016

POWERFUL NAME IT IS

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.


John-Marc our AHOP Worship leader yesterday led and shared this from Hillsong.

Download it.
Or just click it and be inspired.
Do it! Don’t just push past this one today…

And as you listen, the lyric that John Marc “emphasized” yesterday was:

You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

I believe and I am sure you will agree, that inspired lyric can serve to remind us of an EMBOLDING TRUTH as we embark on another week and soon to be another month.

Jesus has no rival and no equal.
No circumstance, no sin, and no challenge can stand under the weight of the name and power of Jesus' name.

I think as Christians (“followers of CHRIST”) we forget this.
We forget with have a “never leave us, never forsake us”, Christ WITH us today!

Therefore, as you enter you’re “whatever” today, be reminded that you have HIS unrivaled, unequaled Spirit flowing inside of you and that Spirit is there to set direction, provide protection, grant wisdom, and share favor!

So be courageous today.
Don’t cower in the face of the unknown.
Don’t be swayed by any lie that the enemy would have you believe.

They don’t rival.
They are on the wrong side of the equation whatever they are.

Instead tap into the powerful name of Jesus today.
Remembering that:
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… Philippians 2:9 (NIV)

And what a beautiful, wonderful, and POWERFUL name IT IS!

There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express. – Billy Sunday

Have a blessed day.
I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

Friday, October 28, 2016

BE BOLD

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

2 Timothy 1:7(AMP)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

Sometimes the best reminders come from unlikely sources.

I had not had the privilege of meeting Attorney General Beshear from Kentucky prior to yesterday.  But I am glad I did.
During his remarks to our crowd of 300 or so at the first ever TRI-STATE Faith-Leaders “Taking Back our Communities – Combatting the Opiate Epidemic” Conference in West Virginia, Andy referenced this passage of scripture.

With West Virginia number one for overdose death and Ohio number two we have our work cut out for us.  And what encouraged my heart was that while ALL THREE Attorney General’s were quick and courageous to stand with our faith leaders and ask for our help, it was Andy who BOLDLY said that we CAN begin to turn the tide on this epidemic BECAUSE of what this passage from Paul promises!

1.   As Christians, we don’t have to fear!  It is not in our spirit-nature!  So, we ALL can UNITE to FIGHT this fight with SUPERNATURAL courage!

2.   GOD has given each of us a sound mind, opportunities for good judgment and discipline and if we would link those gifts and talents together, this epidemic COULD NOT and WOULD not STAND.

3.   We are called to deal with this epidemic (and all things for that matter) with the LOVE and SELF-CONTROL given to us by GOD Himself.

And yes, while Andy was speaking in direct correlation to the challenge I speak of often here in the OFH, the opiate challenge, the passage has perfect relevance for each of us in our personal walks and our personal journeys today and everyday!

We CAN BE BOLD!

We CAN approach today emboldened by the LOVE of CHRIST.  
Therefore, don’t be timid in your faith.  Walk upright and courageously knowing that GOD is by your side that His Spirit is linked to your spirit and you are coursing with untapped potential and power!

We CAN allow GOD to infuse His good judgment into ours.
So, stay calm! Stay cool!

And finally, we CAN BOLDLY love without restraint. Our spirits have been given a full measure!

Friends we often wade into our days wearily or fearfully.  We let things like an overcrowded schedule or fear of failure keep us from BEING and DOING all we have been equipped and emboldened to do!

Let’s embrace the reminder from AG Breshear today!
Let’s approach today in strength and courage!  Let’s exercise our spirits for love and good judgment!

BE BOLD!

“The more we see ourselves as vibrant, successful, inspiring people who BOLDY declare and manifest GOD’S vision and promise, the more we become just that.”  - Adapted from Bowman

Have a blessed day.
I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE

Thursday, October 27, 2016

GET FIXED

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

GOD has blessed us with the opportunity to get FIXED; to make good choices today. HE could have crafted us as minions and “yes men and women”, but instead He loves us enough to give us the FREEDOM to choose.

Needless to say, for those walking with me in recovery, we have had a season of two of choosing poorly that is for sure. And true to scripture it has damaged us and our freedoms and joy. Incarceration, lost opportunities, and damaged relationships are the fruits of those choices. Scripture promises that.
…Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Galatians 5:13 (MSG)

That is why it is so critical that each day we FIX our hearts and minds to the proposition of “choosing wisely”. All day long we are going to be bombarded with choice after choice, some good options and some “not so good” options. We need to prepare ourselves with a mindset to use our FREEDOM wisely and in service to GOD and what GOD would want us to do.

So start here… My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed (Psalm 57:7)
Heart fixed on GOD? 
Good start!
Adrian Rogers' little blog site offered a solid piece of wisdom when it comes to “choosing” correctly. It says, “He who would not fall down ought not to walk in slippery places.” 

That is good stuff for I believe far too often we set ourselves up for daily failure.

We hold on to dangerous phone numbers. We take a route to work that sparks temptation. We click the mouse and travel down some familiar paths of lust and self-gratification. We stop by just for a COKE and a few laughs at the old haunt. 
We dabble. 
Then we wonder why we fail; we wonder how our FREEDOM got damaged even though scripture says that is what will happen when we misuse our freedom, when we choose poorly, when we “dabble.”

So it would seem pretty simple then wouldn’t it? If don’t want to risk a fall…don’t dabble. James 4:8 (MSG)…Quit dabbling in sin…

If we are to walk in obedience to God, we must be intentional about our course of action for the day ahead.  FIXED.
We are not dummies. We know our weak spots. 
It isn’t rocket science, but I will admit there are some other areas of disobedience that aren’t quite so easily avoided. A leering stare, undisciplined surf on the net, a few white lies. 

Therefore let's get our minds and heart on the things of GOD this morning. 
Set the tone for a good day with good thoughts that are focused on Him.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Let's GET FIXED!

Have a blessed day.
I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE