Favor or Favors?

Favors are everywhere.

Government. Politicians. Work. Schools. Churches. Friends. Family.

What is the phrase, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours?”

Ladders of success are crawling with the favors of control, manipulation and influence.

“You owe me.”

“Next time, it’s on you.”

“Will you do me a favor?”

Favors are Satan’s counterfeit to God’s favor.

Favors are exploits to barter for an expected gain or benefit. Favors always have strings attached; an obligation meant to command another to exchange an advantage.

There is nothing Godly about favors. Once done and if repeated, the relationship will falter and eventually infuse hate to the one who is owed.  The comfort zone is lost when one person owes another.

The Favor of God is planting or sowing into the life of another without expecting anything in return. God rewards those who have a heart for people no matter how they are treated.

The Favor of God is:

Giving favor or assistance to those around you
Solving problems for someone
Creating an atmosphere of love and goodness with those you come into contact with
Using your gifts of skill and proficiency to aid in the promotion of others
Be respectful of expected conduct and behavior that is unlike your own
Following orders from those in authority over you with an attitude of completion

If we diligently exercise the “Law of Divine Favor” the rewards will bring miracles, promotion, and supply of abundance, wisdom and open doors otherwise never found.

Favor can turn enemies into friends, crisis into wonders and award reputations of integrity.

God’s favor will open that which has been hidden within a person to positions of power and importance in 24 hours’ time.

Favor will produce more favor. Increase and growth follows those who seek God’s favor.

Expect favor; pursue it. Know that it takes more than what we have as humans to obtain it.

The foundation of favor is God.

And the reward is Him.

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The Yoke Unleashed will stomp the devil every time…

If you’re expecting a formal, grandiose “Burning Bush” revelation from God; think again.

Not that he doesn’t find great joy in producing such phenomena but his style I have discovered is also slow, paced and articulate. However let us not forget who is the creator and designer of words, art, color and synonyms.

A major sign of God’s revelation is “peace.” He is a God of order, not disorder. He is also master of the “spontaneous.”

While we wait in wonder when he will speak, reveal or show up it is best to commit to getting into his presence and living there. A continuous flow of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit will give those who seek him with their whole heart blessings of getting to know him.

“Relationship” is one of satan’s greatest fears. He knows when we get into a close relationship with God, he is doomed. Why do you think he has misconstrued, lied and deceptively led people away from the intimate connection with the Creator? He has no fight against it.

Once we are settled in with God the closer we get to him the further away we get from evil. This produces a protective shield, abundance, prosperity, health, vision, guidance, direction, mercy, grace and above all, love.  And satan can’t stand “love.”

Watch how the enemy works. He is incapable of creating anything new now. He has lost and is losing power daily. But he uses that which he has used in the past or repetition.

Look for patterns of attack; health, supply, finances, marriage, divorce, strife, contention, compromise. How long do they last? How often does he switch from one to another? What is his mode of assault?

When he continues to round up his “demons and demonettes” to confront those of God with the same outbreaks, know his options are running out. Remember how God revealed the truth of his actions and the victory he gave you.

The phrase “”keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” has a ring to it. Know your enemy. Learn his tactics. Call his bluff.

Satan deceptively and consistently will tell us what our problem is; only that is to keep us from looking elsewhere. If he can keep us on his track of lies then we will not search other areas where God is waiting to tell us the answer.  The product of fear of what you hear comes from Satan, not God. So if fear of a particular problem continues to feed your mind then most likely that is not the problem at all. It is a stupid, simple tactic of the evil one to keep us off guard from the truth.

A key to remember is his total repetition of fiery darts probably is not at all what it seems to be. Get alone with God and ask him to reveal to you what you have missed, which direction to go and how to get there.  You might even laugh when you find the answer was on the other side from what the devil was telling you.

More than anything seek the peace of God so that whenever the throes of the devil arrive, stay calm, quiet and focused on Christ.  Don’t panic!

Satan has no weapons against peace. He will buckle under and slither away like the snake he is at the sign of no argument.

Peace is God’s weapon for us to use.  Get Peace. And with that peace comes the understanding of God which is a battle won every time.

Philippians 4:7

The Pen

Certain doors we walk through we probably shouldn’t.

http://www.pbase.com/jrandyh

Others are traps set to distract us from our purpose.

Unknowingly, we continue our anointed calling a door appears in the floor.

Lured by deception we enter in only to fall down creaky steps in the dark.

The cement is cold and dirty; the abandoned basement smells of mold and decay.

Climbing back up to get out is worthless since the door in the floor slammed shut behind you.

The only light glimmers through a tiny window covered in iron bars.

Barely enough to see are dusty antiques, cobwebs and furniture with holes in it. Boxes full of old letters, books and files strewn between broken chairs and tables. The dungeon like surroundings have death written all over them void of any human contact for a very long time.

How did I get here? Did I ask to walk through that door in the floor? Not that I know of.

If the smell doesn’t sicken the lack of food and water will. Human life can’t survive long in such vile surroundings.

Fear sets in as if the devil himself walked in and announced, “You are going to die, in here all alone.”

Shaking, cold and weeping, you cry out to God, “Where are you? You promised you would never leave me.”

Immovable, your body deteriorates as time passes. 24 hours later hunger and thirst is overwhelming.  Sleep is impossible even though you’re exhausted.

Another day passes. Weakness has overtaken your senses but not enough to ignore his ugly presence. He has returned to solidify your obvious demise. “Why won’t you leave me alone you sinister creep? His wicked laugh follows him as he leaves you to die.

By the third day calling out to the God who hasn’t heard you is hopeless. No water or food has left your physical body dry, limp and defenseless.

One more time the demonic forces appear, “Give up. It’s over.”

Sounds good. Can’t do this anymore.

Rolling over in another position something pierces your side. You don’t have the energy to remove it.

All of a sudden that still, small voice you know speaks, “Get that pen out of your pocket.”

“What?” Once again, “Get that pen out of your pocket.”

Fumbling through the pocket of your cargo pants is this pen. A green and white, rather cheap writing pen you have never seen before.

http://www.pbase.com/jrandyh

“What good will this pen do me except to write my last words with it?”

The pen was structured with a plastic piece on the side that turned it on or off.

Pushing it startles the heck out of you. Not only was this a writing pen, it was a flashlight.

Immediately out of nowhere you gain the strength to get up. The little flashlight was so bright you could see everything in this “hell hole” even a 2^nd door in the floor.

Making your way to this door, it opened with ease. The sun appeared as you crawl out into a fresh field of flowers. The scent was so wonderful it was as if breathing in that which you lost and so much more.  As you make your way through red roses and magnolia blossoms, revelation abounds from the God you thought had abandoned you.  Greeted by the most unlikely person, God catapults you to a new level of spiritual maturity. He has given you favor with one of clout and notoriety who was there to help you; only now it is the other way around as they seek your wisdom for confirmation, knowledge and future allowances.

 

Days later after much nourishment, care and love from others you realize the door to that deathly hallow had nothing to do with you. It was a means of one more perpetual attack against the anointing God placed on your life only the attacker never knew about the 2^nd door in the floor.

Settled down and rested with the entire crisis behind you one question remains.

How did that so-called pen/flashlight you have never seen before land in the pocket of your pants?

Denomination in Defiance of Israel

Having been a member of the Presbyterian Church USA denomination years ago,
I am outraged at the latest affirmation this particular group has adopted.

As a liberal limb of the Presbyterians this denomination continues to reflect the political ideology of America rather than abide by the Word of God.

Instead of aligning themselves with Israel, they have decided it is the problem in the Middle East.

http://www.israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=256

Zionism Unsettled: A Congregational Study Guide is the newest release from the Israel/Palestinian Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church, USA. Declaring Israel as a “human rights degradation” within the Palestinian people is the basis of this so-called newsletter.

Never mind that Israeli teachers walk around with rifles attached to their belts.

Forget the number of attacks in the last 5 years on the Israeli’s killing children and injuring many others.

Don’t remind the Palestinians of how many of their injured are treated and cared for by Israeli doctors and clinics.

The truth is the Palestinians have no military. For the most part the Palestinians are disorganized and unable to have efficient local entities to keep peace.

Israel has one of the best in the world and for obvious reasons.  Rebel Palestinians use any means of weaponry against Israel and yet according to this journal and I quote,

“Zionism Unsettled explains accurately and concisely why it is essential to look at the theological roots of Zionism, and how it has appealed to both Jews and Christians, in order to understand the true nature of the long ordeal suffered by the Palestinian people, as well as the real roots of so much of the strife in the Middle East.”

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s press release this report reveals 4 reasons Israel is now considered the Presbyterian Church USA’s enemy and they are:

1. Israel is the responsible party for the Palestinian conflict
2. Israel has no right to a homeland
3. Zionism is evil resulting in ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide
4. If you are an American then you share in this evil against the Palestinians 

God is clear about Israel. If you don’t support his people and homeland he will not support you. That includes governments and churches.

ADL Voices Anger over Presbyterian ‘Zionism Unsettled’ Study Guide www.adl.org

The Charlatan said what?

“Why did I say that? It was stupid!”

Surely no one reading this has ever done that before.

If you want a good laugh read John 5:1-15.

The story is about a man who had been an invalid for 38 years.  He would join others by a “healing” pool every day.  The first ill person in the water once it was stirred was made whole.

One day Jesus just happened to be walking by and saw this invalid. He asked,

“Do you want to be healed?”

The man replied, “I have no help getting in the pool when the water is stirred. Someone else always gets in before me.”

Jesus replied, “Get up. Take your mat and walk.”

So he did.

The Pharisees saw him walking with his mat and yelled out to him,

“It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed and walk.”

WHAT? DID THEY REALLY ASKED HIM THAT?

This invalid hadn’t been able to walk for 38 years. These self-centered, egotistical, so-called educated bigots told him he had broken the law?

Did they expect him to go back to Jesus and say, “Excuse me sir, but would you make me an invalid again? According to the law, this is considered working on the Sabbath. Can you come back tomorrow and repeat this miracle?”

Oh, give me a break.

Legalism at its best.

As I was reading this I had to laugh at the ridiculousness of the self-interested.

Was their demand to follow the law an acquittal for their foolishness?

Did they honestly believe the Son of God would stop healing on the Sabbath?

Where were their priorities? Or did they have any?

Their precedence was control; manipulation and commanding power for themselves.

Forget the love of God, his laws were not to be broken; not even by the “Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:2)

The Pharisees were “wolves in sheep’s clothing” fraudulently and maliciously playing with the emotions of this man as they did with many others.

Had they known the people around them considered them to be arrogant, egotistical and condescending would they have changed?

Obviously not. Their relatives came to America; and they are alive and kicking. 

God is an Early Bird

This is not what I wrote for today. God had other plans and he had them early.

If you want to know more of how God speaks hopefully this will help.

Let me back up a few days.

Don’t take for granted anything that might appear inconsequential or as a typical everyday something you saw.

For instance; the other day I “just happened” to turn the TV channel to Daystar. Now I know many of you believe Christian television is a hoax, joke or money making venture for false teachers, etc. That may be true in some instances but God gave us technology for his use. Dr. Mike Murdock once said, “Christian television is one of the devil’s worst enemies.”  Dr. Billy Graham eluded to this same ideology about computers years ago.  It is apparent the enemy has used it for his own deceitful gain but he has lost that battle.

While it was on Daystar it showed that this week on the “Joni Table Talk” John Paul Jackson would appear. Knowing the schedule was in the back of my mind but it didn’t register God was telling me to watch for it.

If you don’t know who John Paul Jackson is, then you should.  He is an international Prophet and Dream Interpreter anointed by God. He is what is referred to as “an 11^th hour baby.” Please google him to read his testimony.  It is well worth the time.

God must get up a whole lot earlier than I do these days. He knows since I basically came home to work, I am not a morning person not that I ever was but he isn’t on my schedule.

Moving out of bed around 7am I made it to the coffee pot to get a caffeine jolt to wake me up. Sitting down with my drink in hand I turned the TV on to Fox and Friends. Half awake and half interested in the reporting I drank a few gulps of coffee and mumbled to myself it was too early.

Precisely at 7:10am all of a sudden “John Paul Jackson’s” name burst into my brain/heart like the AF base morning “Reveille.” Talk about waking up fast.

Immediately God reminded me that JPJ was on Joni. Switching to Daystar I knew before I did it he was her guest this morning.  God wanted me to hear what he had to say for 3 reasons.

1. Confirmation of issues God has been speaking to me about for the last few years about our government
2. God wants his people to know he uses Christian TV to speak to us because he created it.
3. God wants his people to listen and take seriously his prophets and what he is telling them because many Christians question his anointed ones. Unbelief in his modern day prophets is hindering the movement of God. If you want to know more of what God is saying then buck up and read websites like http://wwwtheelijahlist.com. 

The following were the main points JPJ announced that God has spoken to him specifically about to grant to those who follow him the truth since we are not hearing it publicly.

1. ACA: the so called Affordable Care Act is not at all about health care, or health insurance. It is not about helping anyone.  It was designed specifically for this present administration to gain control of the people.
2. The attack on Benghazi was not a spontaneous reaction to a video. Islamic extremists pre-planned it months in advance.
3. Islamic nations have not been radical as many thought but have fallen into the extremists hands making them that way.
4. Our government, including Republicans/Democrats and the Obama Administration are not leaders but politicians functioning mostly to keep their jobs. Trust and politics no longer go together.
5. There are many in the government, IRS, military and other political entities doing everything possible to get rid of God. This includes monuments, historical landscapes and local branches being infiltrated to the anti-God movement.
6. Do not trust the IRS. It is totally corrupt lending itself to pull down, ruin or destroy any group connected to Christianity through the 501C application.
7. Weather; storms of all kinds have increased in strength to the point the levels of classification will be forced to change.
8. North Pole is moving at a rate of 40-50 miles a year now which is unprecedented. This is and will cause major problems with GPS systems in cars, trucks, etc., which will affect overall transportation around the world.

At the end JPJ was questioned about the ACA website. His response was this:

“That was God’s mercy on this nation.”

God is warning us, giving us truth and revealing his grace and mercy upon us even though we are in knee deep trouble. But, he is not finished yet with America; in fact he is just beginning which is what JPJ was eluding to.

Last note: My take on his prophetic words along with others who have written future accounts of prophetic knowledge is there is still much to be done. God is just now beginning the greatest harvest of souls in the history of the world. He is so loving he wants every possible account of saving the lost to happen down to the last sheep.

A personal prophecy: A specific prophecy God has transcribed to me over many years is slowly beginning to take root but I don’t see this happening any time soon.  Once it takes root it will be many years after that for it to come to pass. It concerns a person very close to me.

If Jesus is coming any time in the next 40 -50 years then that prophecy will not occur.

We need to wake up before 7:10 am people.

Prepare to go to Ittoqqortoormiit

Remember the story I told way back about the man who went to Africa? He knew God had called him to go but it was what he didn’t know that made his trip questionable.

He was willing to follow God across the world to a little village and live in a humble straw hut.

How many of us would do the same?

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Fear that God will send his children to the Rain Forests of the Amazon or to one of the most remote places on earth, Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland. Who wouldn’t want to go to Greenland to this small village of 500 people who hunt whales and polar bears? There is a small airport 25 miles away only getting a flight in or out is rare.

God is good at unloading on his children that which they can’t possibly do on their own.

The line, “God will never give us more than we can handle” is true; that doesn’t mean we will like it.  We may even wonder “what does this have to do with me, or where is this going Lord?” Pulling a “Jonah” and running away or asking God to send someone else to Nairobi likely crosses the minds of many of us.

The methods or course God sends to his followers is to bring them into the consecrated life of holiness and sanctification. In other words he uses what is necessary to bring his saints to his point of view.

Paul knew what this meant. He lived it.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Chained, imprisoned, starved, shipwrecked, beaten over and over; persecution became Pauls’ best friend.  His life after conversion was no piece of cake. Hunted down by his own people, he became a traitor of the Jewish hierarchy.

Paul was aware from the beginning of his new life with Christ he would suffer for his choice. Was he happy about being beaten? Did he enjoy prison? If not, then why did he do it? Why did he choose to follow Christ when he could have lived his life as a prominent, educated Jewish Pharisee?

He wanted to identify with Christ.  He was prepared to do whatever God asked of him if it meant becoming more like Jesus. He was willing to risk losing it all for the sake of the Cross of Christ.

Following Jesus is costly.

It is so costly it gives freedom from all that is unlike God.

So, are you packed? Ittoqqortoormiit is waiting.

Cabin Fever or Jail?

I had to get out of the house yesterday.

After years of “cabin fever” living in the mountains I had forgotten what it was like to be stuck inside.  Having the option to go outside is one thing; knowing you could slide your way to the mailbox is another.

The first mistake I made was going down the wrong road. Or roads.

Avoiding tree trimmers or debris workers was trial and error.  Scattered limbs, trunks split in half and blocked streets from inches of ice lined the landscape of this southern city.

Dealing with summer super storms or heat waves of 105 degrees for weeks on end appear to be a piece of cake compared to this past week of a major arctic blast.

The second mistake I made was going anywhere at all.

The traffic was atrocious. Cars and trucks came out of the woods to claim their piece of the aftermath pie.  Vehicles backed up for miles in some places due to downed power lines and trees created some very unhappy travelers.

The third mistake I made was…….yes….going to Walmart. Why, oh why did I go to Walmart?

The parking lot was full. Empty grocery carts found their own spaces. Shoppers who didn’t look like shoppers seemed to show up on the busiest day of the year. And it wasn’t Black Friday.

Inside the store were empty shelves and aisles full of boxes of items waiting to be unloaded. Certain departments looked like a wind storm had blown through leaving a path of SC Gamecock destruction.

Grabbing what I came for quickly I headed for the check out. I stood in line almost 20 minutes.

The clerk looked at me and said, “You would think people got let out of jail. They act like they been locked up in a cage or somethin’ and as soon as they were set free they headed to Walmart.”

There are many types of cages or jails we set up for ourselves. A few days of ice covered roads forced residents to stay home against their will. The fear of being stuck or their independence taken away for even a short time produces anxiety, stress and impatience. Go live in the mountains of WNC for a few years and you will find out quickly staying off ice or snow covered roads just might save your life.

The prisons we create or the ones we are thrown into without a fair trial leave scars that heavily affect our thinking and position in this life. Instead of believing we have an escape route given to us, we rummage around in our cells of panic, dread, apprehension and sometimes physical damage.

Jesus is the guard with the key to freedom from any type of incarceration, confinement or slammer. That key is his heart. Getting to know the person of the resurrected Christ changes our thought processes.  That means spending time in his word, praying over his words and having conversation with him may not change the circumstances, but enlightens our hearts to his responses of our circumstances.

This is not to say he won’t change our circumstances because he is in the business of miracles, signs and wonders but he also paves roads directing us down his path.

And for the sake of humor let’s just say Jesus offers up a Get out of Jail pass for free!
(He might let you pass go and collect $200.00 too)

What kind of Conversationalist are you?

Conversations between people can point out quickly how a person thinks, what is on their minds most of the time and their future position.

Secular society is full of cynics. Give them a topic and immediately ripping it apart are the first words out of their big mouths.  It is like they can’t help but be pessimistic or degrading.

However the instant a defeatist shouts misery finding their deep seeded wounds will spill over like grains of sand pouring out of a beach bucket.

One line of doubt after another is a fueled focus of their agenda. Blinded by a destiny of hate, failures, low self-esteem there is no room for change. Why cheer on a bright side when pessimism can be exploited?

The naysayers are not “Kingdom followers.”

On the other side of this conversation are the Joshua’s and Caleb’s. In between the low down dirty gossip and statistical malfunctions of government, education, health care, etc. are the few who read between the lines.

Joshua had some really big sandals to fill. Considered to be a great warrior, he learned the ropes of battle but was true to God’s calling. (Joshua 1)

Joshua: The Bible Series

12 spies were sent to investigate the area of Canaan. As the story goes 10 returned with a dishonest report. Joshua and Caleb came back with a different account of the same area. 

So….how can that be?

2 opposite conclusions about the same place.

(Modern day America?)

One is negative; the other is positive.

It’s all in how our eyes view what is in front of us. Or is it?

Joshua and Caleb observed the land with supernatural vision. The other 10 couldn’t see past their own noses.

What is in front of us is temporary. Fleshly. Natural.

Supernaturally speaking is eternal. Beyond the flesh. Holy Spirit filled grandeur.

The 10 spies observed the takeover as hopeless, impossible and bleak.

The other 2 knew their God and what he had done for them all those years in the wilderness.

Both knew he was the God of the impossible:

The God who sent plagues to the Egyptians at the touch of Moses’s staff. (Exodus 7)

Parted the Red Sea. (Exodus 14)

Provided sandals and clothes that never wore out. (Deuteronomy 29:5)

Rained food from heaven every day. (Exodus 16:4)

Led them by a cloud and fire. (Exodus 13:21)

All 12 spies had lived through the same hardships, difficulties and some of the most miraculous events in history.

The difference is who knows the Lord on a personal level and who doesn’t.

God teaches those who seek him how to see beyond the Red Seas of life and trust him for a miracle.

God reveals through his word his faithfulness to us by his promises.

God leads us daily as we connect with him on a level of divine yearning just to get to know him.

When the Israelites arrive at the Red Sea the moaning and groaning began.

“Moses, now what do we do? That is a raging river! Why did God bring us here to die?”

The faith of one man stood before the waters and prayed.

He believed this same God who spoke to him in a “burning bush” could do anything and do it now.

He trusted the Creator to make a way for his people to get to the other side of this very large river if it meant he would dry it up instantly.

Moses may have never dreamed God would part the waters, but who cares? It worked.

So which are you?

Do you think God is sitting on this golden throne playing tiddlywinks?

Or do you believe God is turning water into wine? Healing the sick and changing the hearts of the most evil people on earth?

Why don’t you tear up your Bible?

I asked my husband the other day if I could tear up his Bible.

“What?”

“You know the Amplified Bible sitting on your bedside table? You aren’t reading it and mine has fallen apart so I want to tear yours up now.”

He gave me a leather bound New Living Translation back a few years ago which now sits as a used antique on the front desk.  I loved that Bible but it began falling apart so we got a New International hard back that is no longer in one piece.

As I stole his I reminded him that he most likely won’t ever see it again; nor will it be readable. His job keeps us filled with every kind of pen, pencil and Sharpee available. He gave me 4 new gel highlighters so his Bible will be filled with color.

This in no way is a self-aggrandizement or the “bragging rights” of a Pharisee.

More than anything it is the desire to read God’s word out of need to be more like Jesus. Anxiety and stress also add to opening the pages so hopefully I won’t make the stupid choices and mistakes as in the past; including yesterday.

Wisdom and knowledge are waning in people. Not that we had a great deal to begin with but the outright ignorance that spouts out of the mouths of supposedly intelligent and educated Americans is beyond belief.
To be honest, one has to wonder how many of them know what day it is.

The Bible is more than just God’s word. It is the Creator of the Universe speaking.

He has inspired the pages; written his whispers of infinite information that only he knows.

He has graced each letter, number, name, place and event as codes of seasons and space.

The past, present and future was written from beginning to end giving history a timetable endorsed by Heaven.

When you read his words acknowledging him, a natural supernatural experience grows from your heart.

The more you ponder or meditate upon this eye-opening book, his divine character becomes your thoughts, your wishes and aspirations. He begins a journey of planting who we are into his existence.

The chapters and verses he has handed to humanity are a culmination of Jesus; the Christ risen. Within his person reigns the only life worth living.

Through the torn pages of a Bible are remnants of a life changed; sealed and stamped with the blood of one who makes all the difference.

His words become our life so we can become rivers of living water for others.