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Hang On! – Don’t Give Up, Never Give Up!
Have you ever had days when the attacks come so hard that you feel like you’re being kicked in the teeth or punched in the stomach so hard that the breath is knocked out of you and you can’t breathe?
As Christians, we all know that Satan attacks all of us, but there are times that bring overbearing pressure that’s so heavy it feels like we will break into pieces; you feel like you can’t take it anymore. That’s how last week was for me. I felt like I was hanging on for dear life!
So what do you do when you find yourself in that position or in that place? Over the last 15 plus years, God has taught me many things about being and operating as a spiritual being, how things work in that realm, and how it affects how things work in this realm. So let’s look at the basics.
According to Genesis 1:26 – 27 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
As you can see, human beings are distinct from all other creations because out of all the things God created, humans are the only thing God created in His image. As God is a tripartite – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – so human beings have three parts – body, soul and spirit. Paul also made reference to it in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
I like referring to the 3 parts of man as “boxes”. The flesh box, the soul box and the spirit box. I do that because each part is a container of unseen components:
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Flesh Box (Body) – the physical or material structure of human beings. This is where carnal spirits/demons like to hang out trying to influence and control us.
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Soul Box – the mind (which includes the conscience), the will and the emotions live. Demons or bad spirits like to hang out here and like to do things that foster negative emotions to get our flesh to do things that are bad for us. Here is where we process the things that have happened to us and our responses to it.
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Spirit Box – the “you” God made lives here and once you get “saved” God’s spirit comes to live there too.
So, getting back to my story, when I’m (or you’re) being attacked or something bad happens in our lives, each of the boxes react to the attack at the same time. Each having something to say about the situation and each wanting to be in control. Normally, depending on your personality, the flesh box or soul box speak the loudest with how it feels and what they want you to do. Have you ever wondered where God is when you’re under attack and the other boxes are speaking so loudly that you can’t even hear God at all? Unless you’re life is on the line, God normally doesn’t yell, scream nor cuss, but the other boxes do, don’t they? (smile)
So, with all that being said, when all hell is breaking loose around me, here is what I do:
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I go find God – The other boxes may be yelling and screaming, but I force myself to turn away from them and I turn toward my spirit box to find God. Wisdom dictates that if I don’t, I may find myself in jail. So to avoid making a bad situation worse, I find God.
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I tell God the truth from the flesh & soul boxes – I don’t lie to God and try to act like I don’t agree with some of the things the other boxes are saying. I get brutally honest with God and “keep it real” with Him. He knows the truth anyway so it’s stupid to waste time lying.
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I control my tongue – As I’m going through this process, I consciously make sure I stay in control over what I allow myself to say, ensuring that I don’t say anything that will make my bad situation worse. Even though a part of me may agree with what the flesh and soul are saying, wisdom dictates that I remember Proverbs 18:21(cev) – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will have to eat everything you say.
Ok, I hear you talking, saying “how the hell do I do that?” Normally, we talk about the problem over and over. To ourselves and then to other people. Most times, we go to God last, if at all! I get that, I was there, but you have to remember, we are spirits having an earthly experience, not the other way around. The problem is no one has really taught us how to walk that out. So how do we do this – practice, practice, practice. One situation and circumstance at a time. Was hoping for a quick fix right? So was I, but there is none. I’ve looked, and I still look. This is what works every time!
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Remember, this is only a test – Remember how God allowed Job to be tested by Satan in Job 1:12? And just like Job, God has set the conditions for your tests. You can pass each test, every time, but only if you follow God’s instructions. So I simply ask God what to do to pass the test, and then I “do” what He tells me, the way He tells me. With His help of course.
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Get some power on it – I ask God who will stand with me and help me win the battle. I then go to them and them only, asking them to stand in agreement with me for my victory according to Matthew 18:18 – 20 (msg) “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Once that is done, I don’t discuss it with anyone else. If someone else finds out about it and approaches me, I only discuss the results I want. I do not rehearse the problem, only the solution! It’s stupid and a waste of time to discuss the problem with people who have no power to help me. The bible says in Romans 4:17 to call those things that be not as though they were.
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I use my “Praise” weapon – praise acknowledges that we need God and it is not via our own efforts, but the power of God that brings victory. Praise takes our eyes off the problem and puts them on our solution. Praise gets God involved in your situation. Check out Psalms 8:2 – With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless.
Once I do all the things I’ve listed above, I notice that the yelling and screaming from my flesh and soul boxes have quieted down a lot. So I acknowledge what they still may be saying, but I inform them that God has instructed me on what to do and we (flesh and soul and I) will be doing what God said to do. They do not have to agree, but they do have to line up.
Using this process, I have won 100% of the battles I have applied it to. The only losses I have suffered have come because I didn’t work it or apply it. Please remember, Satan’s attacks are designed to get you to give up and quit! That is the only way he can win. He is powerless against you if you are following behind God!
So help you help you. Stay away from people who bring problems and hang around people who have your solution. God has sent many angels in human and spirit form to help you. Let Him lead you to them.
I know the pressure is heavy and seems unbearable sometimes but God has put enough of Himself inside you to bear it, lift it and defeat it! Use the info above and take the victory you want so badly! God has heard your prayers and this can help you get manifestation!
Let me know how this process works for you. We are waiting to hear about your victory. Remember WorkDatWord!
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ALC Life Groups Rocks!
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Last Tuesday night (March 11th) was our first Authentic Life Church’s (ALC) Life Group meeting! Yeah!
We launched 4 separate meetings across the city in various locations. Our church is only 5 months old and it’s amazing to see how it’s growing! Our God is faithful. Our meeting was held in a room the church rented at a CDC facility in our community.
But, what’s a Life Group? A Life Group is a small group of people who gather regularly to support each other and enjoy common interests. They are known by various names: Growth groups, Connect Groups, Core Groups, Cell Groups, Home Groups or Fellowship Groups. You may know them by one of those names.
Christian Churches use these groups to not only teach the Word of God, but to also foster more personal relationships amongst its members. Inside these groups members help each other take the Word of God and use it in their daily lives to create success and to weather storms.
In regular church services, the number of people, combined with time constraints, makes it impossible to have an interactive format, or answer individual questions or concerns. In addition, the Pastor or Leader can’t personally get to know everyone in the congregation. However, in small groups, the level of intimacy is much higher so people can dig deeper into what the Word of God means and how they can use it on a daily basis. Thus bringing God alive in your life, not only on Sundays.
This concept is quickly replacing the standard “mid-week” church service due to its higher level of efficiency and effectiveness in caring for people. People now feel connected to something bigger than themselves and a part of something meaningful.
Life Groups also help people discover and develop their gifts, talents and hobbies into successful businesses. They can share ideas for community projects and the group’s operational needs. As people get more involved, their gifts, talents and skills get used, developed and expanded. For example, in one of the small groups I belonged to, someone who liked to tinker on the computer volunteered to help create a newsletter about the group. That newsletter was seen by many other people and that led to paid gigs. A new business was born! I have many testimonies like them from former members of our group. We also got involved in our surrounding community by feeding the homeless, adopting a woman’s shelter and many other projects like supporting the businesses of the members who already had businesses in our community. We became a family!
The goal of the ALC Life Groups is the do the same thing. To first provide love, support and fellowship for its members and their families. Secondly, to invite people in the surrounding area who are not yet saved and those who are saved, but don’t have a church home.
At our first meeting last night, we had an engineer who sings like a songbird, a hair salon owner who lives across the street from our meeting location, an executive director of a facility for the mentally impaired, an author, and many others. We also had people on every level of spiritual development from the not saved yet to folks who have been saved for years! All hanging out together eating the Word of God together and having fun while doing it. We even ended the night by doing some line dancing. Check us out!
I want to thank some of my great friends who helped make our night great: James, Kisha, Tina, Darnetta, Lisa, Anettra, Damon, Susan, Willis, Sara, Shewanda and Krystal. I want to thank my great husband Bruce for his unselfish love and support and I want to thank the best Pastor in the world, Pastor Lester Brown who supports and pushing us to live our best Purpose Driven Life. Thanks to everyone who attended and I’m so looking forward to seeing you all next week!
Come check out our Life Group! We will be meeting for the next 7 Tuesdays, from 7 – 8:30pm @ the Greater Brewerytown CDC, on the corner of 30th & Master Streets, Philly. See you there. For more information simply reply/subscribe to this post.
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Son of God! – The Movie
Go see this movie! I know you’ve seen Jesus movies before, and I know you know the story, but this time it’s being told by members of our kingdom family. So we need to support that so we can continue to tell the stories God wants us to tell and the world needs to see.
I saw this movie a week ago with my Authentic Life Church (ALC) family and we really enjoyed seeing it with each other. However, I really don’t like watching the crucifixion scenes because I get angry when they torture Jesus, but so grateful at His resurrection. It’s a big emotional ride for me! This time was no different with one exception. During the crucifixion scenes, I asked God if I could just get up and walk out of the theatre, but my legs wouldn’t move. After trying to move many times and my legs not moving, I just let the emotions flow and I asked Jesus, “What were you thinking about as they tortured you?” Jesus replied, “I was thinking of you.” I can’t explain the overflow of appreciation and gratitude that flowed from me hearing that. I couldn’t move so I just sat there, let my tears flow as I thought I was going to burst wide open. It felt like more than I could contain.
Fast forward to today’s Sunday morning service. Our praise team was singing a song called “I Will Love You Forever, Lord”. As I sang along with them, my movie experience came to my mind so I began to tell God how much I love Him, how much I need Him because I cannot do this life mission on my own. Then I began to see all the “little” miracles and blessings that I have received just this year alone! I say “little” because we have the tendency to lose sight of the daily miracles that we receive because our eyes are on the “big” things that have not manifested yet. Satan has a way of deflecting our minds away.
Then when it came time for special music, one of our church members who is not a part of our praise team, was introduced to sing. I know her from my former church and she can saaaaang! My daughter and I (and everyone else that has ever heard her sing) have been praying for her to sing since our new church ALC started in October 2013! She began to sing the same song (I Will Love You Forever Lord) that the praise team sang earlier in the service. For a second I wondered why is she singing the same song and then she opened not only her mouth, but her soul and began to pour out like only she can do. She sounded like an angel in heaven! My soul was lifted up so high that if felt like I was floating on air. It was amazing! If that wasn’t good enough, she began to direct the musicians in how to play (intensity levels) the notes and when. She then called on the various praise team members one by one as God instructed her and brought them onstage to join her. They seemed to be caught off guard so they had to flow with her and God. They did, and you could feel God moving like wind in the sanctuary!
So, each of us as we listened did the same thing. We opened up not only our mouths, but our souls and spirits, so how we felt about God could come pouring over our lips in a manner that we hadn’t done in a very long time. God met us all where we were today and each of us was touched forever. I look forward to seeing the harvests manifest from this seed sown today!
All of us should be pressing for the many promises that God has made to us to manifest. I know I am pressing to live inside of my dreams. I am pressing to live a “dream come true” life. However, we cannot lose sight of all the miracles and blessings that have already manifested in our lives and those that manifest everyday. Today I make that decision. God has done miraculous things in my life, and if you know me you know what I’m talking about, and it’s only just getting started! What amazing things has God done in your life?
So in the resurrection season, please don’t forget about all of the blessings and miracles you already have as you believe and pull in the ones you still want and need. All of us want better for our lives, but don’t forget how blessed you are today.
Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that the thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy but he came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, til it overflows. God also tells us in Psalms 37:4 that if you delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
God knows that there are many things that you want to do in this life. He knows because He is the one who planted that desire in you. But know, believe, and walk in the knowledge that God has not forgotten you. He told you that in Deuteronomy 31:6.
So in this season celebrate all that God has brought you through, and share your testimonies of celebration with us.
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Breaking News!!!
Breaking News!:
This is the official announcement of our ministry website. As you can see its called “WorkDatWord”. Yeah!!!!!The name helps explain what we do. We assist people in breaking free using the Word of God as we get God involved in your everyday life. People have real life issues – like lack of jobs, money, emotional issues, health issues and if you know like I do, just going the church on Sunday is not enough. People need a confidential place to deal with their issues that’s effective & powerful. They also need a place to develop their spirits as they discover their purpose and God’s specific plan for their lives. While you’re out saving the world, who’s saving you?So please help me put the word out about our new website by passing along this email and doing the following:1. Go to www.workdatword.com. Subscribe to the site and automatically receive each new update. Under the fabulous picture slides and to the right of the first article you’ll see a header that reads “Subscribe to WDW via Email.” Please put your email address in there and click the subscribe button. You will receive a confirmation link in your email. Click and confirm. You will then be taken to a page that will tell you that your subscription has be activated. When an update gets delivered to your email, open it and click on the title of the post. The helps me out by adding you as an official visitor to the blog.2. Make comments on the articles/posts. No comment is too short–even one word responses. Comments get conversations going and attracts more visitors and activity to the site. It also lets me know your thoughts and helps with future articles/posts.3. Post the articles/posts on social media. Please help promote WorkDatWord! Under each article you will see the “Share This” feature that will take you directly to your social media site once you click on one of the buttons. You can then add your comment and a link to our site will be posted with your comment on your page for your friends to see. You can also use email to share the articles/posts you like.The site has been configured for mobile phones and tablets. So you can visit the site from anywhere. It’s been set up to be very interactive so check it out.Great things will happen if each of you go to the site and start blowing it up! If each of you told the people you know and they go to the site lives would truly be changed forever! That is going to be awesome!- Please subscribe to us @ www.worddatword.com
- Please like us on facebook – https://www.facebook.com/workdatword
- Please follow us on twitter – https://twitter.com/WorkDatWord
These quick and small gestures can help expand our ministry and bless a lot of people.
In addition, we are having a Launch Party to set the site off right! So come on out to celebrate with us. It will be on the first night of our church’s Life Group meetings:
Authentic Life Church Life Group Bible Study
BreweryTown CDC; 3000a W. Master Street; (on the corner of 30th & Master Streets)
Philly, 19121
Tuesday,
March 4thfrom 7 – 9 pm – Due to an expected snow storm, the date has been moved to March 11, 2014.Thanks in advance for your help & support! And if you’re coming to our Launch Party, please RSVP so we can have an accurate count. We’ll see you there!
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I Prayed, But It Didn’t Happen The Way I Wanted!
I went to a funeral or a home going service this week. The deceased person was a woman of God who was attacked with some type of disease in her body and succumbed to it. But how could this be if she was believing God would heal her? Doesn’t the Word promise us healing if we only believe?
I went with a lot of questions. Why didn’t God heal her? Was she believing to be healed until the day she died? What happens to our faith in situations like this? The service was at her church and from its reputation, is a good bible teaching church, so what happened?
During the service I learned from those speaking that she had been believing God to be healed, but in the last weeks of her life she decided that she wanted to go be with God instead. That only brought more questions to my mind. What happened to make her change her mind? As a woman of God she knew the power of God and what it could do. She has kids & grandkids, why would she want to leave them?
I immediately started talking to God about it. I knew this was a decision that she and God had the right to make, so why did it bother me so much? My soul was vexed & heavy because this was putting pressure on my definition of healing; then came spirits of doubt & unbelief. Should I now stop believing because it doesn’t work anyway? How do you know?
So in addition to talking to God, I started talking to other believers who are living by Faith like me. I even talked to my Pastor about it because He has always been straight up and direct with me.
Here’s what I re-discovered or what was brought back to the forefront of my mind:
There will be things in this life that will happen that you didn’t want to happen. There will be times when it seems that your prayers are not being answered the way you want them to be answered. There will be many things that don’t make sense to your definition of God’s ways or His word. God tells us that in Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
So what do you do when you’ve got questions & not enough answers? What do you do when things don’t make sense to you? I’ve decided to continue to do what I decided to do the first time I found myself in this place. I believe God anyway. I believe that He knows what I don’t. I’ll believe even when I don’t get what I want, the way I want.
God reminded me of a conversation that I once had with a gentlemen from my former church who was in the hospital fighting a sickness in his lungs. I asked him how his fight was going and I will never forget his response. He said that he was believing God for his body to be healed, but also felt that he could also get the victory in this battle if he decided to die. That shook me because that didn’t line up with my definition of “being healed”. How could there be a victory in death? Well, as he explained it, if God didn’t heal his body he would still be victorious over this demon of disease because in shedding the diseased body, he would get a new one free from the demon and he would also get to be with God too! He felt he had done what God sent him to earth to do and he could choose “going home” to be with God if he wanted to. Either way he wins!
That challenged what I believed but it also opened my eyes to other perspectives. As believers we have to evaluate & re-evaluate what we believe & why? My definition of healing is total restoration of the physical problem. But is that the only definition? Of course not. You are free to believe it the way God gives it to you. Demons of religion keep people bound & stuck in believing only its set of definitions. That’s a cult. No matter how hard it may seem, we have to keep our hearts open toward God so we can learn – add to and take away things as we learn from God.
The guy Iater died and because he felt it was a victory for him, so did I.
I don’t know about you, but I like having & knowing all the answers, and I want to know them up front. But, I have to accept that in a lot of cases that may not happen.There will be some answers that I will never get while I live in this earth suit and I have to accept that, but I can not and will not let it affect my faith in what I know to be true. I know I don’t know it all, but there is a lot I do know & I choose to work the Word I do know and flow in the power that it brings to my life. I don’t lean to my own limited understanding deferring always to God according to Proverbs 3:5-6:
5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
So I choose to believe anyway. I choose to keep my spirit open to God so He can fill it with the things He wants & needs me to know. I have worked God’s Word on purpose too many times in my life so I know its power to change things to make them better.
So don’t worry about what you don’t know, keep your heart open to learn, but work what you do know and God will meet you where you are. Because no matter what happens I choose to walk by faith and not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 –For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk ] not by sight or appearance.
What about you? What do you do when things don’t happen the way you want them to?