Change and Maturity

As you embrace God's Word through a kingdom mindset, you will notice that the Word of the King will take on a new meaning.  Your clarity of the scriptures will become clear of what God's purpose is for your life.  Through change you will become more mature and secure in who you are.  change causes you to grow to the level of maturity in God's Word as you read and study it.  Remember what the disciples went through as they were changing while Christ was here on earth.  The disciples became alarmed when the storm came.  Yet Jesus was cool, calm and collected. They panicked.  His faith remained steadfast. 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Maturity isn't ignoring danger but rather interpreting it through a kingdom mindset so that it becomes a benefit to you rather than a burden.  Change then becomes a source of courage rather than a discomfort.  In this instance, the power of God was shown to bring peace in the midst of a natural danger that could never have been addressed without help from the King.

Remember, reading, studying and obeying God's Word brings maturity.

Mark 4:35-41
~~W.R. Luchie

Built-in Potential

It was stated by Chin-Ning Chu, a Chinese American business consultant "Without the strength to endure the crisis, one will not see the opportunity within.  It is within the process of endurance that opportunity reveals itself".

What I have learned in this world is this:  A successful career should not be your goal in this life, God created us with much more. Our goal in life should be a successful deployment of our abilities and gifts.  Now what is it that I mean deployment and employment.  I have learned that a job means "Just Over Broke".  Is this where you are?  As a Kingdom Citizen in right standing, your employment--your job--the place where you earn a paycheck--gives you an opportunity to serve and to use the gift God has given you in the context of a corporate group.  Now when someone employs you, what they are actually doing is using your time to help build their business or project.  In return, they pay you a fraction of what you are worth, but not even what they think your time is worth.  Because if they did, they would first ask you.

Now deployment is the giving of your natural gift to the world around you.  When you get deployed as a Kingdom Citizen, you can be sure that the results of your labor will have eternal significance.  Your work matters, and the fruit of your work remains.  Read what the king stated:  " Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.   “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." ~~John 15:4-5

Obey God's Word.
~~W.R. Luchie

Your obedience to the King hinges on
how much faith you put in His Word.
~~W.R. Luchie

The Nutritional Nourishment of the Word

 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  ~~Joshua 1:8

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,  and in His law he meditates day and night. ~~Psalm 1:2

In a time of crisis, or anytime as far as that is concerned, the secret to thriving is to understand the secret of being fruitful.  The secret of being fruitful is simply this:  Reading, studying and obeying God's Word.  One thing that we humans fail to do, is to have faith in His Word.  Our faith in His Word is our greatest asset. Once you read and study God's Word, your responsibility is to meditate on it day and night.  It is the nourishment for your spirit and soul.

Nourish (verb):  to feed or to sustain; with substances necessary to life and growth.  It is to foster; develop; promote (a feeling, attitude, habit)

Nourishment (noun):  something that nourishes; food, nutriment.

Remember how Mary the mother of Jesus kept the word of the angel in her memory and thoughts?  Those words gave hope, faith and confidence.  They were food for her soul and spirit.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  ~~ Luke 2:19


Once you embrace the King's Word and meditate on it, it will start the changing process (maturing, fruit, right behaviors according to His Will, and right standing in the King's Presence).


Remember what King David stated in Psalm 119:11:

Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

In What Position Do You Stand?

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
2) God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3) Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.  ~~Psalm 53:1-3

In God's Constitution (the Bible), the term does not indicate mental incompetence, but moral and spiritual insensitivity.  The fool is the individual that ignores the King's principles, laws and precepts.  Without any laws, there would be nothing but chaos and mayhem on a consistent basis.

Remember, at some stage of life, we were all disobedient to the King's command and His principles.  When we fail to embrace His principles and commands, we fall into an environment that causes us to stray from the very thing that can strengthens us and assists us in our growth.  To truly know your position in the presence of the King, you must have the Holy Spirit residing in your temple (meaning your body).  Remember what the King stated:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.~~John 15:26

Have you noticed what King Jesus called the Holy Spirit?  "The Spirit of Truth"  The King also identified the Holy Spirit as "He" not "it".

When Discouragement Comes

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29) Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31) Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
                          ~~Matthew 10:28-31

We deal with discouragement and sadness from time to time.  Maybe it is caused by hard times or a crisis. Sometimes it is simply a "melancholy" mood.  Yesterday, that was the case for me.  In the midst of it, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the old hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow".  We've all heard it, I'm sure.  Yesterday, the words resonated in my mind:

When we are in the midst of despair, it is hard to believe that God cares...hard to believe things will change...get better.  But He does care...things will change...it will get better.  If He watches the sparrow and numbers the hairs on your head, He knows what you are going through.  Trust Him in every situation and watch Him move in your life.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.                                                              ~~John 14:27
                                                  
                                                  Additional reading:

                                                     Psalm 34:17:22

                                                           Psalm 43

Be Still and Know
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. 
~~ Psalm 46:10-11

Today's world is on sensory overload. Internet, cell phones, TV, radio, iPods, video games, etc.... provide a constant stream of noise.  Our ears and eyes are constantly inputting data to our brains and Satan loves it.  He has an open line to our minds and he keeps us too busy to hear God.  Some people always have ear buds on, listening to constant "noise".  Even when some are driving alone in the car, they must be talking on the phone!

Why do we have such an aversion to silence?  What so disturbs us in the quiet times?  Why do some never want to be alone, disconnected from the world and quiet?  Even when praying, they are never silent...

God speaks loudest in the quiet times.  He will not yell above the constant noise and chaos of our lives.  If Satan can keep the volume turned up, if he can keep us busy and distracted; we will not hear what God has to say!  So today, I am saying "Be still....quiet the noise..and listen...

The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places
~~Isaiah 32:17-18


For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

~~Isaiah 30:15


Then they are glad because they are quiet; 
So He guides them to their desired haven.

~~Psalm 107:30
~~~Be blessed, Arlene

Who Do YOU Think You Are?

There are times when we may feel as if Satan has unleashed his demonic angels on us to beat us up--to destroy us.  But remember, he wants to know if you know who you are.  

As long as you cower in a corner in a defensive posture, he knows that you don't know the power that is in being sons and daughters of God with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. 

Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness?  I believe one of the purposes of this passage is to show us how we are to respond to the enemy's attacks.

Go to your Bible (or click the link below), read the scriptures and note these key parts:

Matthew 4:1:11 1) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  He was LED into the wilderness to be TEMPTED by the devil.  The devil didn't surprise Him.  It was part of God's plan.

4) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Deut. 8:3) When Jesus responded to Satan's temptations, it was always by speaking the Word of God.

5) Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6) and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”(Psalm 91:11-12)  Here the devil is using scripture to try and tempt Jesus.  The devil knows scripture and how to use it!

7) Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (Deut. 6:16)

Again Jesus responded by speaking the Word:

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Deut. 6:13)

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

There is power in God's Word and power when you speak it!  Don't weep and beg God to deliver you. Go on the offense! Your deliverance is in what you speak.  Let the devil know that YOU know WHO you are in Christ!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.  Ephesians 6:10
~~~~Be blessed, Arlene 

II Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

When we read and study His Word on a daily basis, there must be an action verb in our daily behavior.  Meaning, obeying and living His command.  By obeying the King's principles and His laws, we are citizens in good standing and He knows who we are. For His Word is Truth.  Remember what King Jesus stated, standing before Pilate:

John 18:37   Pilate said to Him,"Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Obeying the King's Word gives one courage.  Why?  Because His Word will last forever.  Remember what the King stated.  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away. ~~ Mark 13:31

Stand strong on the King's Word, your firm foundation.
                                                ~~W.R. Luchie

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5) Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  ~~~Psalm 37:4-5

In the late 90's we were living in a 960 square foot house with two growing boys, a dog and a cat.  We needed more room! But selling that house and finding a bigger house we could afford seem impossible!

One day, I was talking with my former pastor's wife about the situation.  She said "God wants to give you the desires of your heart.  Tell him what you want.  Be specific!"  That was exactly what I did...right down to the porch swing! Within two years a builder offered to take our house in trade and built our home, to our exact specifications!  When I sat on that front porch of my dream home, I felt so blessed and loved by God.  Sometimes at night, I would sit on that porch, gazing at the stars, thanking God with tears of joy. He gave me the desires of my heart, exactly as I asked him!  The same thing happened when I met my dear husband, William...but that is a story for another day!

Meditate on Psalm 37:4-5, all of it: 

#1 First delight in the Lord.  Not just His benefits, blessings and favor.  Also delight in His boundaries, His laws, His correction, His instructions and the way He will sometimes protect us from ourselves when we want to do something stupid. 

#2 Commit YOUR way to the Lord.  It's not about doing it YOUR way, but about following HIS way.  It is saying "Not my will Lord, but yours"

#3 Trust in Him.  We say we trust Him, but do we really?  Do we worry?  Are we fearful?  Trust is being able to close our eyes and fall back, with peace that we will be caught and not be hurt.  When something comes to attack our peace, God says "Do you trust me?"

#4  God loves you so much, He wants to give you your heart's desire.  When you do numbers 1-3, your desires line up with His will.  Write down your heart's desire, tell God and be specific!  Don't try to figure it out, just watch God work!                               
                                  ~~Be blessed,  Arlene