Will I Believe?

     Our lives begin, filled with dreams and visions of purpose, part of the very cellular fabric of our beings. Then tempests of life quickly begin to surge in – stealing, killing and robbing us of those divinely-designed purposes.

Our Choice is a
Question – Will I Believe?

     When the force of fear grips my heart and the pull of pain tries to stop me in my tracks, I will look instead at the face of Love – the face of my savior – who has promised me a life that will be fulfilled in purpose and abundant life.

     When double-minded doubt descends on me. I will look up to the cross of Jesus where my faith is founded. There I will be reminded of who I belong to and the foundation of my beliefs. There I will again shout, “YES, Lord!” and see freedom respond to revelations of my purpose, dreams and visions.

     When uncertainty and frustration spin me into frozen deadlock, I will lay down my control. I will look to my Father and trust in His authority – not my own. I will accept my inability to control my situations and circumstances. I will remember that He alone has a plan for me, which is abundantly-filled with a future and purpose. I will trust in His plans.

     When grief and loss threaten to pull me below the waves of life, I will look up. My eyes will look to the maker of my soul, and from there my strength will immerge.   I will lay down the past and fight for the future – agreeing with His promises for tomorrow.

I Will Believe!

     Tumultuous times may bring waves of negative emotions: fear, pain, doubt, uncertainty, frustration, grief and loss; but our stand must be one of courage! When the waves assault us, we are made stronger when we look UP! Our faith arises, and we take to the front-lines and to the walls of the city with a courageous warrior’s cry of, “I do believe!”

     I do believe in God who always loves me, always has the best for me and always wins!  I do believe in His son, Jesus Christ, who loves me so much that He paid full price for me now and for eternity – giving me complete freedom. I do believe in the Holy Spirit who is ever-present to whisper strength and courage to my spirit when my knees shake and promise to buckle. I will be strong and courageous – fighting forward toward those dreams and visions of purpose that were created in my being.

I DO BELIEVE!

     Join me – RISE UP – stand strong and courageous – shout NO MORE when the tempests of life surge in to steal what He has rightfully placed within your being.

         RISE UP and take your place on the front-lines in the Kingdom of God!

RISE UP and take your place as intercessor on the walls of the city!

RISE UP and step into the abundant life you were created for!

RISE UP and BELIEVE!

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

 

Which Will Refresh?

Sometimes I just need a Coke – nothing else will do. I’m thirsty but choose something that actually defeats the purpose – something that dehydrates me. My body is asking for water – my flesh chooses wrongly.

We have become a “thirst-less” bride of Christ – dehydrated from choosing wrongly. We live an ineffective lifestyle – no longer true ambassadors for the Kingdom. So many of us have chosen wrongly – chosen that which has dehydrated us.

How do we become thirsty if we have allowed our thirst to be quenched with other things?

Once again we need to turn – stir up what has been lost – pant as a thirsty deer after the presence of a living God. Drink deeply from the rivers that reside within us – then we will be the bride that has made herself ready, the bride that will pour out healing for the nations, the bride whose heart overflows with living water to all those around her.

Today chose to put down the Coke and drink deeply of the water of His presence.

Psalm 42:-2a As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. (ESV)

John 7:37-38 On the last day of the feast, the great day; Jesus stood up and cried out, “if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (ESV)

An Eagle’s Life Lesson

     The majestic eagle depends on his physical design; strength, speed and and sharp vision, for his survival.  Just as the eagle does, so do we often depend on the “I” of our own abilities.    

     There comes a time to the eagle where a molting process must be faced. This process brings this majestic strong bird to a weakened position. His feathers, strength, vision and ability to fly or hunt are eliminated during this time of preparation for renewal.

     We too, come to this place; where all of what “I” can do and what “I” have done are no longer of value. We then face a choice, a choice of the heart. A choice that requires a willingness to give up all of what “I” can do and trust in what “He” did for us at the cross.

     The eagles too must make a similar choice. Many roll over and die choosing the memory of the “I” of their former majesty. Those who are renewed are those who turn to the sun, rest and wait. They then are restored not to the former majesty but to a stronger and greater one.

     We too can only reach new heights with renewed vision and strength when our eyes are on the “Son” not the “I”. Only then can His plans, purposes and design for our life be renewed.

     Trust that His plans for you are far greater then your “I” plans. So chose today to learn from the renewed eagle. Join me and look to the Son – Rest and Wait! This hard time of “molting” will bring forth the fruit that changes lives; you will come out better then you ever were before.

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Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)

Revised excerpt from Winters Rest – J.K. Sanchez “The Choice – To Mount Up With Wings Like Eagles” 2014

Experiencing His Fire – Open the Door!

I stand outside – the howling wind and the cold drizzle of rain a constant discomfort. The flickering glow, the desire for warmth, the obvious peace that waits, draws me to the window like a “peeping tom”; looking through the glass that separates me from what I desire.

I am acutely aware that warmth, dryness and contentment are available if I chose to open the door.

Making the choice and opening the door allows a new adventure to materialize before me. What could be seen from the outside does not compare to the experience of hearing the fire crackle and the sizzle of wood in the hearth that begins igniting new senses; the smell never experienced before now swirls as smoke and wood meld together with bone deep warmth in this new atmosphere.

What I thought I understood about this experience – this presence of fire – its warmth, light and peace – are nothing like its reality; an outside looking in experience is like experiencing a mountaintop through a photograph. This new experience of the very presence of God has exploded into a new inexpressible encounter at the feet of Jesus.

Have you chosen to open that door?

In church, never churched, or anywhere in between; you may find yourself still looking through the window, thinking you understand all that is inside but never partaking of all that is available to you free of charge.

Don’t wait outside, cold and wet, wishing for something more; yield to his call to open the door and walk into His presence. Come join him in front of the glowing fireplace that is filled with a roaring crackling fire – just waiting for you to experience and enjoy with Him.

 

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you;seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.(ESV)

(Revised excerpt from Fall’s Yield – J.K. Sanchez “Yield to the Call and Open the Door” 2015)

Photo courtesy of Geerati@Freedigitalphotos.net