Don't go undercover.

This is a guest post by my brother Moises Vargas. A man who loves God and desires to encourage you. Enjoy.

Have you realized how many people are in this world?

If you haven’t then stop and take a look. How many of them do you think are christians or quote on quote Jesus followers? Maybe your saying, I have no clue or he looks like a christian and he doesn’t. Maybe your right, you can’t identify who is and who’s not. I wonder why?

Why can’t we identify who is a christian.  In my opinion it is because we live in an "undercover world" were we feel some type of way if people know that we are a christian so we hide who we are.
Are we embarrassed of the person who God created us to be, or your just not sure if there is a God. I see a lot of people who try to fit in and be something that they are not because they don’t want people to know or wanna hurt someone’s feelings.

Even some people from church act worst then the people from the world. That can be very confusing for someone who is really looking to follow the Savior. I ask myself why? Why do people play undercover, why be ashamed of the God who created you. The bible says in (Luke 9:26)  that whoever is ashamed of Jesus and His word, the son of man will be ashamed of them when He comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
It’s time to exposed who you are. It’s time to show the people that you were created by the Creator of this world and that you will not be ashamed of who He is in you.

Its time to shine your light to the lost and help them find the one that has found you. It's time to take your mask off and live for God.

Are you going to let your light shine, or are you gonna play undercover?

Believe

This is a guest post by my friend and fellow minister Darlene Nancy Bazemore.

What happens when you believe?  

Believe is defined as to accept or regard as true.  When you believe in God and what He has promised in His Word, what you thought was impossible is now possible.  The overwhelming situation in your life is now under control and you will have a peace that surpasses all understanding!

Believing in God is like a child believing in their parent.  If the parent told their child, after school we are going to the store and I am going to give you what you desire; then believe me when the child is picked up after school, they are taking their parent at their word.  It doesn’t matter what the circumstances may be on the outside.  They could be caught in a terrible storm, traffic, and blown down trees on the road, but that child is holding their parent at their word because of what they promised.

The child isn’t concerned about the circumstances around them, they are just holding on to the promise.  They are accepting or regarding what their parents have said to them to be true and in other words, they believe. They believe that their parents are going to make it happen regardless of what it takes to get to the store.  

What about us?  Do we believe?

Do we accept what our Father has told us and promised us in His Word to be true?  Do we get fretful because of the circumstances in our lives or do we believe like the child believes in their natural parent?

In Mark 11:24 it states, “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  Part of receiving is our believing that we shall receive the blessings of God.  In St. Mark 9:23 it states, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  If we can just believe….all things are possible to us that believe.  

Neither the situation we’re in nor the circumstances that surround us matter, we must believe that our Father will provide and His promises are yes and Amen.

I leave you with this…no circumstance is too hard for God!  We must believe.  Hezekiah believed that if he prayed to God his life would be lengthened and it was.  The Woman with the issue of blood believed that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed and she was.  Jarius, the Ruler of the synagogue, believed that if Jesus came to his home where his daughter was laying there dying, she would be healed and she was!  

We too, must believe!  No matter how dark, dismal or bleak the circumstance may look, believe in my God and He will take that impossible situation and turn it around and make the impossible, possible!  This only happens….when you BELIEVE!

What are you believe God to do?

What are you sowing?

Everyone of us has a field that we are sowing into. And your life will tell you what you have been sowing based on the fruits you have been reaping.

See, everyone of us have been sowing seeds into our future. As a matter of fact this post is a seed, as you read this post you are sowing into your mind and heart. The more you sow into the desired results the closer you are from attaining it.

So if this is true, wouldn't you want to see a greater harvest?

Let me ask you a question.
Do you like what you see?

Many times we dislike what we see happening in our life. Yet what we fail to understand is that what we are getting is a reflection of what we have been putting in. So here is the challenge.  Change what you have been putting in.

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten. The same is true for your spiritual life. If you sow into your spirit, spiritual godly things you will be more godly.  You will be able to be all who God created you to be. Yet if you sow into the flesh you will have to be satisfied with a poor life. A life disconnected with God.

God desires to connect with you. He gave his ultimate possession.  His son Jesus for you.

So why not give him all of you?
Friends this task is a daily process that we who are following Jesus must do until we go home to be with the Lord. Yet while we are here let's sow in such a way that we are proud of the harvest at harvest time. Let's be faithful - full of faith in sowing believing that God will reward those who diligently seek Him.

Just try.

There is something that God wants to do through your life. And he will use everything that you have been through to do it. 

Yet, the thought of doing what God is calling you to do is not easy and it is often scary. But as scary and as challenging that might be, you still long to be a part of something significant in the world. You want to be use by the creator of the universe. You want to do a work that counts and that makes a difference in people’s lives. You want to do a work that lives on even after you are gone. 

I believe God has equipped you to do it, for this time and this season, but it is up to you to take a hold of whatever you are called to do and obey him to the fullest. 

Don’t Run

Many times we run or hide because of fear of failure but if you run from the calling of God in your life you will have forfeited your destiny. 

In order to do it right sometimes you have to do it wrong. This is the learning experience. You will only get closer to the task or mission of your life if you take a leap of faith.

Do it afraid and watch fear disappear.

Do it wrong, and soon you will learn how to do it right. 

Find a voice of value and soon you will become a voice of value for others.

Help someone in need and soon someone will help you. 

Believe in someone and soon someone will believe in you! 

I believe we all face fears, but moving ahead in the face of fear is the only way to conquer it. 

You will gain strength and confidence to do it again and again. God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power… and we must constantly remember this. You and I have been given power. Power for what, you might ask? Power to do everything he has placed on the inside of you to do.

I recently told someone “life is passing you by while you’re resting your eyes”. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to matter. I want to contribute in God’s master plan. I want to be a part of God’s story. What about you? 

What are you going to do with the time you have left?

Why you should feel salty?

I apologize for the late post this week. I wasn't able to post because of technical difficulties and certain situations that took place over the weekend but I'm glad to be back. It's never too late right? Below is a guest post by my friend and fellow minister Abiezel Raices.

Salt: a necessity  

  After two years of experiencing life through the scope of matrimony, I have learned a lot of things about life that I probably wouldn’t have learned if it wasn’t for marriage.

 One of the things I have learned is that cooking has two routes.  The first route is the most popular route, “the way to a man’s heart” and the second route is the way to make a wife happy.  Yes, I said it, cooking is the way to make any women happy.  Women love when a man cooks them food.  A wise man once quoted that “a happy wife equals a happy life.”  However, I will add to this amazing quote a happy wife, who doesn’t have to cook because the husband cooked, equals a happy life.

 Ever since I have come across this revelation, I have purposely cooked more often for my wife.  I can say now that I have become a Chef.  As a chef I have learned some secrets of the trade and one of the secrets that I have learned is that if you want to make food taste good then you must add salt.

 Salt is a simple ingredient but makes food taste so much better. Salt is necessity in the process of making a great dish. The scripture states in Matthew 5:13 that “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (NIV)

 As Christians we are all called to reach the heart of man with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If we are to be successful in this commission then being Salty is a necessity.

What is your take on this?

P.s. Abiezel and myself will be hosting a leadership conference in the big apple January 24-25!  Tickets are already selling fast, I hope to see you there, for a time of spiritual refreshing and word of encouragement for your leadership endeavors. For more infomation contact me via email at contactjosevargas@gmail.com Register today!

Words have power

Words are powerful.
Words can heal and they can steal.
Words can build someone up or it can tear them down.
Words can start a war that destroys a nation, but words can make peace to build that nation.
Words can inspire love or they can surely express hate.
Words are used to create, words are use to cultivate.

Don’t allow your words to destroy, rather allow them to make someone rejoice.
Be the type that edifies people and challenge them to believe in themselves, for some have place their dreams on hold yet you can be the one who with a word release them to run once again.
God used words to create the world into existence, why don’t you use his word to change your perspective?

Be a blessing and not a curse, for what you sow today, you will eventually eat tomorrow.
My final thoughts for you are these; please reach out to the “least of these”.
The world will change with the next words you speak just make sure they are worthy and of purity.

Blessings, Jose

 P.s. I got inspired :) Watch Video Below or click here to comment

I don't have to listen to you...do I?

This is a guest post by my friend and fellow Pastor John Bazemore. His new book just released is

available titled From Despair To Repair

I DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MAN!! 

This statement has become a battle cry for the rebellious and the unrepentant in heart. It is the result of a foundation of disobedience that is now bearing its fruit. It has all the wrappings of hurt that has not been given a covering of prayer and forgiveness. It is a spirit of independence that flourishes in an atmosphere of confusion. It impacted Miriam, Korah, Absalom and Judas.

If MAN can give you a prophetic word for a blessing and you receive it, how does that same MAN become instantly incompetent to give you a word of correction or reproof? If he is abiding by the word of God, he’s obligated to; REPROOF, REBUKE and EXHORT! I have a ministry covering that gives me positive feedback, correction and guidance. Most of my good decisions came as a result of LISTENING TO MEN, who hear from GOD!! Be careful how you DISDAIN the creature, but yet you say you LOVE the creator. It just doesn’t match. We must be forthright and honest with ourselves and ask this question, “Why is it so difficult for me to receive instruction or correction from someone else?” Do we understand that the very Bible that we read, study, and preach from, was inspired by God but came to us through the agency of MAN?

 Most of what we read in the New Testament is instructions on how we should live and fellowship with God. They were divinely inspired but came from the hands of MEN. 

The most powerful sermon recorded in the Bible, on the Day of Pentecost, came from a MAN. The instructions we have on marriage came from a MAN, who was divinely inspired by God. What if we said, “I will not listen to man, but go to God myself for instructions on how to live, get saved, and stand victoriously. Foolishness Right? Yet this is what you are saying when you say, “I don’t have to listen to man. Power, Authority, and Intimacy come to us as we willing submit to one another as servants. Jesus grew in wisdom as He submitted Himself to the authority of His parents. When His season came for ministry, His first act was to find John the Baptist, a MAN, to be baptized so that He could be released into ministry. If order worked for Jesus, it should work for us. Elisha submitted to Elijah; Joshua submitted to Moses; the priests submitted to Aaron the High Priest; The widow listened to the prophet who told her what to do to survive; Hezekiah listened to Isaiah for added years to his life; Naaman listened to Elisha and was healed of leprosy; The man who was lame listened to Peter and was healed. I could go on and on but i think the point is made. Paul said, "That ye be not slothful, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises"!! Hebrews  6:12.

When men and women of God that has authority in your life give you a word from the Lord, you should have the type of relationship with them that you trust they are hearing from God. If you can't, place yourself under someone to whom you can submit, listen, and learn from. After Paul's conversion, he was given instructions to go and find Ananias for further instructions. That's God's Way!!

Do you have someone you listen to? Click here to comment.

For more information on John or to order his book please visit www.johnlbazemore.org