Author: Dr Glen

Change

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Change

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way that you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”. (NLT)

When a person continues to do what they have always done, that person will continue to get the same results.

If it isn’t broken, then it doesn’t need to be fixed. A change is needed when a person is not satisfied with the results they are getting. If you want better, you have to do better.

How a change is being made can have an impact on the outcome of the change. When someone allows themselves to be conformed, their change is coming from outside pressure. When a person’s change is coming from being transformed, their change is starting from the inside.

Over a period of time when change has not occurred, a person can become comfortable with a situation or what has been happening. This can be identified as being in a “comfort zone”.

If someone is comfortable with being in a “comfort zone”, it can be difficult to make a decision to make or accept a change that will move that person out of their “comfort zone”.

Hebrews 12 1:2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne”. (NLT)

Fear can be looked at as a weight that will slow down a change that a person is trying to make. Because of fear, a person may be reluctant to making a change from what they know, to something that is unknown or different.

Over coming fear can start with the way a person thinks and their thoughts. In other words making a change can start with the way a person thinks.

Philippians 4:8-9 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”. (NLT)

Changing the way a person thinks, can start with changing what is being focused on.

Colossians 3:2 “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth”. (NLT)

Focusing on the supernatural, and not the natural can give strength and vision to someone that wants, and is trying to make a change.

Father in heaven, it is my prayer that your people who are called by your Name, will look to You for strength, vision and wisdom that will help them make the needed changes their lives to live victorious lives. In Jesus name…Amen.

Continuing in His service…Rev

Let it go

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“Letting go of the past”

Philippians 3:12,13 and 14 “ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also hold of me. Vs 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Vs 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

In the next 48 hours, we will be transitioning out of the previous year 2020 and into the New Year of 2021. It is also a time when many people will make what we call “New Year’s resolutions”. These resolutions are plans to do something different in the upcoming year and experience life-altering changes.

Many times people don’t realize the difficulty in breaking old or bad habits, and developing new and better habits. Holding on to the past, can keep a person from moving forward into their future.

The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a runner running in a race to describe the believers’ spiritual growth. Like the runner in a race, we must continue to pursue and put forth an effort to reach our goal. When a runner begins to get close to the finish line, that runner will start to lean forward in an effort to be the first to cross the finish line. If that runner is leaning backwards, there is a chance that he will lose the race.    

Paul also uses several terms in Philippians chapter 3:

  • Press on; to continue attempts to reach forward with energetic action 
  • Lay hold; making something your own possession
  • But one thing I do; remaining focused in spite of distractions that happen.
  • Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

From time to time we will remember events that happened in the past, both good and bad. It’s acceptable to remember the past, but if a person dwells on the past, they are allowing themselves to be distracted by the past.

Letting go of the past has to be done in order to move forward into the future. Believers can use their imagination to be able to see themselves accomplishing the goals that have been set.

In order to accomplish goals that have been set, there are some people, places and things that you are going to have to let go of because of their weight. If we don’t remain focused on the goal, weight will ensnare us.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, “let us lay aside every weight” and the sin which so easily ensures us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”.

In order to accomplish goals that have been set, there are some people, places and things that you are going to have to let go of because of their weight. If we don’t remain focused on the goal, weight will ensnare us.

Isaiah 43:18,19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Vs 19 Behold I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.

If a person continues to do what they have always been doing, they will continue to have the same results. With new ideas and new vision, a change can take place and the impossible will become possible.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”.

Letting go of the past will enable a person to grasp and hold on to the future.

Mark 2:22: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins”.  

New ideas will not work if you hold on to old plans. It’s acceptable to glance back at the past, but the main focus should be on looking forward to the future.

Father in heaven, I pray that the blessings that were given by you to your people in 2020 serve as a reminder in 2021 of how gracious you are.

In Jesus name…Amen

Continuing in His service…Rev

The Reason

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The Reason

Image result for pictures of the reason for the season

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Is it possible that the world has gotten caught up in different traditions to celebrate this time of year?

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Many people have latched on to traditions, and have allowed themselves to become distracted from the true reason Christmas is celebrated.

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Black Friday has turned into green Thursday by having people work on Thanksgiving day, in order to get people to shop for early deals on Christmas presents.

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Some people will camp out all night in all types of weather, to be the first person in line to get in the store when the doors open for that one flat screen TV.   

Jesus is the reason for this season.

In many instances, purchase will be put on credit cards that will run up a balance that might take the entire year to pay off.

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Instead of being caught up in a season, let us try to remain focused on the reason.

Jesus is the reason for this season.

Seasons will change, but Jesus never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”.

Black and White Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

Continuing in His service…Rev

Fear

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Image result for picture of fear

2nd Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. (NKJV)

A person cannot always accept everything from this world that someone offers to give them, but every gift from God is good and perfect.

People can experience different types of fear.

A healthy fear is having reverence toward God.

Proverbs 9:10 “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”. (NKJV)

An unhealthy fear can be described as having a sense of terror or dread. This type of fear also includes a fear of:

Large bodies of water or swimming pools.

Heights or flying in airplanes.

Insects and or bugs.

Snakes.

Certain type of dogs.

Being in large crowds.

Riding in elevators with people or being alone in an elevator by themselves.

Scripture tells us that the “spirit of fear” is not from God. This type of fear can almost always produce negative feelings resulting in; anxiety, stress, dismay, despair, sadness worry, depression and in some extremes, nightmares.  

The “spirit of fear” can also be a force that influences the will of a person, and their way of thinking to a point of having little or no hope.

God has given us three “good and perfect” gifts to combat the “spirit of fear” in the verse of scripture found in 2nd Timothy 1:7

1st gift is “power” (Greek definition-dunamis)

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

2nd gift is “love”

1st John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”.

1st Corinthians 13:4-8 ” 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails”. 

3rd gift is a “sound mind”

Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”

Having a sound mind will give us the ability to recognize the “spirit of fear” we might experience at any given time. Once we identify that we are experiencing the “spirit of fear”, we can then use love to assist us with using the right amount of power that is needed to defeat, and conquer the “spirit of fear”.

Lord thank you for the gifts that you have given your people that enables us to live a victorious life, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev