LOSE THE WEIGHT WHILE YOU WAIT!

Waiting for anything is a learned behavior. It is no wonder that patience is considered one of the most valuable and essential virtues in life. Yet David provides the formula and principle to accomplish the wait thing! So in Psalms 27:14 he says " Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy heart. Wait I say on the Lord". Obviously the first suggestion is when dealing with God you are going to have to learn the strategy of waiting. Why? because God is so good at doing what He does He is never in a hurry, never frustrated, and never pushed by anything. God can change a thing when He is ready to change it or more importantly when the thing has arrived at the appointed time and schedule to change. Yet the answer to waiting alludes so many of us so the Psalmist points out that one way to not let the wait consume you is to encourage yourself about the reason and purpose for waiting in the first place. If waiting is not challenging enough then our adversary employs another challenge to the wait. While we are WAITNG on God, the adversary will often times place a WEIGHT on our WAIT to discourage the purpose for the wait. The answer of every believer is the release of praise to remove the weights while you continue to wait on God. The struggle is not intended to prevent you from achieving. When you learn this you can dance with your struggle because that is indeed what you will be doing at the conclusion of the struggle season. So keep waiting, be of good courage and allow God to strengthen your heart and deal with the WEIGHT!

THROUGH THE BIBLE- Joshua

Joshua was well equipped to handle the responsibility of leading Israel because he had served his mentor Moses well. Joshua is mentioned throughout the history of Israel being identified in the battle in the valley of Rephidim, as one of the twelve spies who evaluated Canaan and being present with Moses on Mount Sinai when the ten commandments were given. The book of Joshua represents the arrival and conquest of Canaan the promised land of God. Moses led Israel out of Egypt and as far as east of Jordan but because he disobeyed the command of God by striking the rock twice at Meribah instead of commanding it as God commanded. Joshua now after the death of Moses is stirred by God to finish the assignment which was to gain access to Canaan. The assignment is bigger than a person or a personality. Joshua leads Israel as God leads him. Moses represented the past..Joshua represents the future!

ANOINTED TO GO THROUGH

Everything surrounding Jesus is founded on significance. Even though in the 12th chapter of John he is in the midst of revolving scenarios he remains the focus and attention. Jesus is as the table with Lazarus whom he has just raised from the dead (just practice before his own resurrection)..and in walks Mary Magdalene another one of his miracles. There is no mention that Lazarus offers thanks to Jesus for his miracle but it was clear what was on the mind of Mary. There was no gift to precious..to expensive for her Lord. How do you put a price tag on a life changing moment? As her demons had been poured out of her..Mary pours her gift..her precious ointment on the feet of her precious Savior! Even though the response from the disciples was mixed she presented her gift in the middle of them all. Of course the ointment could have been used for different purposes but that would not have been her purpose. Her gift was connected to her miracle. In the midst of all of these people and only Mary discerned that Jesus was beginning to carry the weight of his assignment much less the weight of his cross. Mary had been broken and discerned in her Lord the signs of someone about to go through! So she anointed him not just for his burial but for his resurrection. Just like Jesus was anointed to go through..so are you!

GET FOCUSED!

SOMETHING UNUSUAL IS GETTING READY TO HAPPEN

Peter and John in Acts chapter 3 were on their way to the Temple for regular and routine worship. Their plans were interrupted by a man with a need. It's funny how God will disrupt our habits and traditions to make us face the real reason we go to worship..one of which is to notice that the people who should be in our churches are not even there! This lame man had been brought to sit at the gate beautiful out of habit. Peter and John meet him on the way to the temple out of habit! It's about time our habits talk! The lame man asked for alms...his usual request. Peter replied "Silver and gold have I none!"..his usual response. Rather than continuing his walk to the Temple Peter breaks from his usual response and realized what this man was asking for was less than what he needed and more than what Peter anticipated. Something has got to break our beloved traditions...our rhythums...our proclivities and propensities! God will always use the usual and ordinary moments in our lives to unveil the unusual..extraordinary and miraculous. Instead of alms the man received a future..let God give you something unusual in our usual and casual day...expect it!

WHERE THERE IS NO CHALLENGE THERE IS NO CHANGE!

The two greatest segments of preparation that leadership or individuals must navigate is CHANGE and CHALLENGE. In an ever transforming and shifting world the ability to understand these two requirements remain crucial. I have always thought that change was a negative thing. Think about whenever someone has stated that you have changed. The first impulse is to defend the fact that you have not changed. Change means growth...that's a positive. Change means movement and positive advancement. Without the right attitude and mentality you may misinterpret change as working against you rather than working for you!. Anything that is alive in God's universe must grow..expand out live past levels or expectations. When you embrace change it opens the door to a greater and more complete you! The way that God encourages us to change is through CHALLENGE!  James teaches that it is the trying or frustration of our faith that works patience. God uses many disconnected strategies to push our faith. When God pushes do not push back..push on to your knew level. Ask yourself honestly today what is God working on and in you?  1 Samuel 17 is classic! David when delivering lunch to his brothers stumbles on a moment and opportunity that immediately challenges him. Without the taunting of the uncircumcised Philistine..Goliath the opportunity to rise to the leadership of Israel would not have presented itself. Do not ignore the opportunities that God presents for CHANGE and CHALLENGE..ALECHEIM shalom..unto you peace!

THROUGH THE BIBLE - Numbers

Never let it be said that God does not have a plan! The census or numbering that God instructed Moses to perform was for several reasons. Obviously to establish and document the military might of Israel because now they are in transition...meaning out of Egypt and in the wilderness...other opposition not Pharaoh would be their challenge. However it was not the fighting power of Israel that would secure their march..into the Promised Land. ..but obedience and confidence in God. Numbers teaches us that even in transition in the wilderness things can go horribly wrong if the reverence of God is not the focus. This could be the difference between an 11 day or 40 year journey!
Israel followed Moses but they were also assured by the presence of God as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Natural and supernatural confidence. Wherever the cloud settled that's where Israel settled. Oh to follow God like that!