ATTITUDE OF AN OVERCOMER -Part 1

While His process is in process in our lives, these are the things that we need to know and do - it will lead us to our victory:

1. Our enemies are being defeated.

2. Our heart is being formed and fashioned

3. Bless others in midst of our trial

Reaction in Action

• How do you react to conflict?
• Difficult circumstances?
• Unjustified character attacks on yourself?
• People arguing?
• Confusing situations you can't control?

 These and more are all woven into every person's life. We can't escape what's happening around us.

The only thing we can control is our reaction.

Moses was definitely a reactionary.  (Exodus)

Whether it was an unfair fight between two men, dealing with complaints from the 2 million people he was commissioned to lead out of Egypt, a burning bush that wasn't consumed, his family and close advisors attaching his character, or a myriad of other issues...

Moses reacted.

God began to teach him to react wisely. God put Moses through the school of The Spirit. You and I are in that same schooling process.

God is working in us to become like Him in and through the various issues of life we face today. 

While meditating about Moses and his journey, an important principle began to take shape. His years out

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God is my source. I cannot fail!

During one of Jeremiah's darkest times help came from an unexpected source...literally.

Here's what was going on...Jeremiah was obedient to deliver God's message to the people.

As a result of hearing God's words, the people were so upset (convicted) that they threw Jeremiah into a cistern.  They didn't like "that" message.

I've looked inside a cistern in Israel. There is no way of escape. You are stuck in every sense of the word.

Cisterns are HUGE containers, very dark, actually pitch-black inside. They are cavernous and used as reservoirs dug deep into the ground. Cisterns were used to store water, grains, etc.

This particular cistern was empty but the bottom of it was filled with muddy sludge. (Jeremiah 38:6)

An Ethiopian official in the kings ranks observed all that had transpired with Jeremiah. He privately went to the king and asked for the prophets life. 

He told the king that he was aware that some political groups had pressured him t

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Be a Blessing

Paul wrote to Timothy giving him instructions for spiritual success. 

He warned him of things and people to watch out for and he gave him the head's up on things and people that would keep him strong in the Lord.

 I was captured by his wording regarding Onesiphorus. He had just described several people who deserted him while he was going through difficult trials and imprisonments.  II Timothy 1

Then he stated, "Nevertheless, so many times Onesiphorus was like a breath of fresh air to me and never seemed to be ashamed of my chains." 1:16

It's interesting that the name Onesiphorus means: 

• One who brings profit.
• Profitable
• Help-bringer

Paul then spoke a blessing over his life, "May our Lord Jesus bestow compassion and mercy upon him and his household...May Jesus, our Master, give him abundant mercy in the day he stands before Him." 1:16b and 18b

 Paul blessed him for he said that when Onesiphorus arrived in Rome he searched and searched for Paul until he fo...

Poured Out

"Mary broke the jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance (aroma) of the perfume." (John 12:3)

This natural act happened before the spiritual act of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. (John 13:3-17)

Mary broke the hard container that housed her security/savings precious to her for her future.

Jesus broke open His humanity to serve His followers, who were precious to Him. 

Men's traditions are like that hard alabaster jar. Strongholds that keep us contained to take care of #1 first...me! Housed in stone; we hold on to traditions/possessions in an attempt to bring a sense of personal protection and security. 

 God's ways and man's ways are not the same. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Our man-made traditions/possessions cannot protect our future any more than our savings accounts.

 Jesus poured out the fragrance of the Holy Spirit in Him to wash and anoint His disciples; as preparation f

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Focus your lens

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. - Ephesians 1:13b

The Holy Spirit’s best work in people is seen in how He changes the way they relate to one another. You want the best parts of your character displayed in your kids. It brings us great joy when we see the positive qualities, actions and words manifesting through our children.

God's grace is so amazing, how can we ever not give that same grace to others that we come into contact with, fully knowing the price that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross. Once you receive the full grace of God and truly encounter the Holy Spirit, you could never intentionally not forgive others of their short comings....

We are reminded in the parable of the unforgiving servant of just how important the act of forgiveness is, and that the gift that is undeserving, yet given to us through grace, needs to be given as abundantly as possible...FORGIVE..FORGIVE..AND FORGI

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Because of THE ONE

"For, if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17

Life has a way of throwing curve balls. One minute it seems "all is well" and the next it is as if "all hell broke loose." Ever noticed that?

When things are good you have a song in your heart and a whistle on your lips. BUT, when things go sideways and upside down, oh my. That's often a different story. Gone is the song AND the whistle.

In our text today, notice the Power of One.

Through ONE man, Adam, death reigned. You were sold out to be born with a sin nature.

However, the GOOD NEWS: through ONE man, Jesus Christ, that debt was paid on your behalf when you accepted His gift, repented of your sinful nature and invited Him to be your Lord and Savior...that, my friend, changed everything.

Now, through the ONE man,

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God Provides

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves." (Psalm 127:2)

Solomon recognized something important. Verse one gave us an insight into human natures' vanity, building a home, establishing a career and raising a family in our own strength and wisdom.

He wisely stated that attempting to do these things without God's involvement...well, it turns out that all of our labor would be for naught in the end.

Human vanity is to attempt to do life without giving God His rightful place in the process.

As The Master Creator and Architect of all life, He knows the ins and outs of each and every situation that we will ever encounter. Not allowing Him to be the foundation upon which we build and the CEO of our lives is indeed unwise.

It also robs us of a balanced life. Verse two clearly states that we can see when we are out of bounds...we rise early and stay up late toiling for (fill in the blank).

The implication So

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OVERCOMING ANXIETY 

Peace that surpasses all understanding

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Phillipians 4:6-7

Oh, the amount of times I have said this scripture. It has become my husband's daily declaration. He and I were discussing this challenge of "overcoming anxiety" recently.

We discussed our personal experiences and then looked at Jesus. He perfectly demonstrated to us how to overcome.

Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane. He knew His time had come, He had totake all our sin upon Himself and conquer death, hell and the grave.

He knows what He is about to endure. He's on His face before Father God, sweating, sweating drops of blood. His petition, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Then Je

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OVERCOMING ANXIETY 

"I see me free"

Pamela (Winderweedle) Hillman has a powerful story of redemption that God is using to help many overcome difficult life circumstances, of their past or present. Following are some messages Pamela shares with others how God led her to complete freedom to bring healing and redemption to their lives. She lives her life with purpose, on purpose, for God’s purposes today. 

Helping the Disenfranchised
She shares the current condition of the prison system and what is required to change the current recidivism rate (those who return to prison within 3yrs) from more than 75% to 8%, which is the rate for faith-based programs. She has developed a 5-Phase Incentive Program, TREM, Therapeutic Interventions combined with Biblical Specialties, where each lady has a mentor that “Walks-Along-Side” each lady “Student” for a full year in prison and a year long program with tools to provide necessary Technical and Business training when they are released. Pam

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