WHAT YOU SAY IS WHAT YOU GET

By Linda Sommer

Proverbs 12:12-14

One of my constant prayers is that the law of kindness would be upon my tongue and that my conversations would be seasoned with grace. There is a proverb that says that pleasant words are health to our bones. This proverb says that we are satisfied with good by the fruit of our lips.
Everyone desires to live a pleasant and good life. Whether we attain this depends on what we speak. If we are critical, judgmental and always murmur and complain, we will not be satisfied with good. The fruit of our lips will taste bitter. If we have a grateful heart and look for ways to exhort people to love and good works by our words, we will be satisfied with good fruit.

Each day we live we will be able to taste the goodness of the Lord. The Bible says to taste and see that the Lord is good. It is interesting to me that most digestive problems have to do with an overproduction of acid in our stomach. The Bible also warns against the gall of bitterness. Bitterness in the heart will always cause bitter words to come out of our mouths, and this may ultimately affect our physical bodies. When we are critical and judgmental of others, acid words can come out of our mouths that will eat away at our joy and the joy of others.

Nothing feels better than having been satisfied with a good meal. When we are satisfied, we feel a great sense of peace and well-being. When we speak kind, uplifting words to others, we also will have that sense of peace and well-being. What we speak has the power to set the atmosphere at the dinner table. Have you ever thought about that? Most counselors suggest that people not argue at the dinner table because it brings stress to their digestive systems. Communication at the dinner table should be uplifting and peaceful. Meal time should be a time of not only giving thanks before the meal, but also of thanking the Lord for one another during the meal. Sadly to say, many households spend little time at the dinner table together. TV, activities and the computer have stolen our times together as a family at the table. Eating together should be an experience that we look forward to. It is just not time to "slop the hogs," as some people say.

Tonight make a special effort to gather together the whole family around the dinner table. Make something special, and then think of sharing with each person present an uplifting and encouraging word. If you live alone and eat your meals alone, use your meal time to read some of God's Word. Make a practice of these dinner habits, and I believe your digestive problems will be solved.

Lord, forgive me for being so busy with outside activities that I seldom eat with the entire family and have time for conversations. Relationships are very important to You, and sometimes I trade relationships for activities. Help me to daily taste and see that the Lord is good, and then share Your goodness with others at meal time. Amen.

READ: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

The Bridge (Part Two)Milan Ford

On yesterday, StreamingFaith.com allowed me to share with you something that was very personal to me. Something that many would not dare to share.
Before reading part two of this devotional, I encourage you to click here and read part one first.

Although I have more gray hair at the age of 33 than most people twice my age, I am still a fairly young man. However, there is one thing I have come to know for certain:

When life seems unbearable, you have to make a commitment to always VENT UP. Our natural tendency as human beings when things do not go our way is to either VENT OUT to our family and closest friends for comfort, or to VENT DOWN to those we have influence over, in order to use our pain as a way of rallying others less mature on our side. A very bad decision I might add.

After being fired by my church, my wife and I had a very long talk.
We discussed that the circumstances surrounding my termination were not going to be something that we would VENT OUT about to many of our family and friends. To be quite honest, very few of them to this day know exactly what happened. Until now. (Hi Mom!)

We also discussed that the circumstances surrounding my termination were not going to be something that we would VENT DOWN about either to those students and church members alike that we had a measure of influence over. We had seen far too many leaders before us share their pain with those less mature, causing many to grow bitter and leave their churches angry.

Insuring my wife and I would never be tempted to do just that, we made a rather painful, yet tough decision to temporarily worship at a different church.

We decided to do the only thing that seemed right. We decided to VENT UP.
We knew that only a radical pursuit of God (and a considerable amount of time) could reset and reconnect our hearts. But to be honest, I had no idea on where to begin.

Until that package (the one I told you about yesterday) arrived at my front door.

THE BRIDGEWhen I opened up the package, I discovered that it was a new music CD (not yet widely released at the time) by a young man named Anthony Evans. The name of the CD was entitled: The Bridge. Inside I found this words; words that I will never forget.

"We all come to a place where God is taking us from what He had, to what He has in store. As we continue this journey, true solace isn't found in knowing what's on the other side; it's only found in worshipping Him as we cross...the bridge." - Anthony Evans.

It was those words, and the songs found on that CD, that have literally served as a BRIDGE of restoration for me for nearly two years. A CD that helped prepare me for something I never saw coming.THE HOMEGOING
This past February (2009), I received a very disturbing call that a college student, one that I had mentored while serving as the College & Student Ministry Director at the church I once worked at, had passed away in a tragic car accident. Ironically, just eighteen months prior, I was blessed with the opportunity to marry him and his wife (a student I also had the opportunity to serve while there).

The homegoing was scheduled to occur at the church I had once worked at. And at the request of the wife, I was asked and approved by the church pastor to provide the eulogy.{Insert very awkward feeling here!}
On that day, I had to return to a place of tragedy in order to bring comfort to those now struggling with their own tragedy. God's ways are truly beyond us all! So as I spanned the audience, filled with faces I knew all too well, I gave them what was given to me nearly two years ago: A song (Click Here).

Today, as you listen to this song above, I pray you will understand this simple, yet widely misunderstood truth: TRAGEDY and WORSHIP are inseparable.

At our lowest of moments, God is still ever present. He is ever faithful. To know Him, is to worship Him. A lesson I am grateful to have learned over again.

Today, I extend to you THE BRIDGE that I now (through pain) have crossed.
Enjoy your journey. I look forward to seeing you on the other side!

Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing north, Milan is scheduled to release his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing, the fall of 2009. You can find Milan blogging at ThePewView.com.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Bridge (Part One)

Milan Ford

Over the next two days, StreamingFaith.com has carved out this space for me to share with you something that is very personal to me. Something that many would not dare to share.It is my sincere prayer that this two-part devotional will provide us all with an extraordinary moment of solace and worship with God. For indeed it is in Him......where our lives are made perfect. (Colossians 1:28)

Nearly two years ago, during the Spring of 2007, my entire world was turned upside down. An incredible, yet unfortunate chain of events helped set me on a course from simply living life as a leader of ministry, into one day becoming an authentic ministry leader.

I was working for a very large and influential church; one whose vision and passion for young people transformed my heart in an immeasurable way when I was still in college.

Although a believer in Christ at an early age, like most college students, I decided to place my faith in God on a shelf, and indulge in many of the temptations that the college life has been known to offer. Had it not been for this church and the desire and commitment of its pastor to begin reaching out to the local college campus community, I'm not sure where my life would have ended up.

It was through this church that my faith in God was renewed. And it was at this church, that I found a real love for ministry, especially for young people and college students within the campus community I once was apart of. After nearly six years of becoming apart of the ministry that had given so much to me as a college student, I was blessed with the opportunity to become the College & Student Ministry Director for that church.

A tremendous honor to say the least.

Things at first were moving along quite well. My passion to see college students impacted and encouraged to follow after Christ consumed me completely. From visiting and creating ministry programs for students while on campus, to opening up my home and spending time with them while off campus, I had never been more on fire for God in my life.

Every day I woke up, to know that I actually was being paid to do something I loved to do, that I perhaps would have even done for free, was a blessing too wonderful to comprehend. After getting married, and being blessed with two lovely children, I thought that nothing could derail me or distract me from the path that I was on in ministry.

But then...it happened.

SUCCESS

It is amazing how a period of success or the roaring sound of praise can cloud the judgment of the most dedicated of leaders. Our hearts of flesh can so easily be turned into hearts of stone when we no longer align our hearts with the heart of a holy God.

It was not long before my drive in ministry had more to do with receiving the accolades of man, than bringing glory and honor to God. My desire to please God was exchanged with a desire to please myself. Ministry no longer was viewed as a privilege. It had become an idol.

An idol that in the Spring of 2007, was completely exposed, creating an unfortunate situation for not only my pastor and fellow ministry leaders, but for several of the students I had been given the responsibility to lead. A decision had to be made. And it was.

TERMINATED

Ashamed.

Devastated.

Depressed.

Shocked.

I can probably write an entire thesaurus full of words that described the kind of pain I felt on that day after being fired by my church. And it still wouldn't do it any justice. As I drove home from the church that day, a drive that seemed like an eternity, I will never forget pulling up in our driveway, and noticing a small package left at our front door.

The contents of this package radically changed my life. And brought a brand new perspective of God, and the importance of worship, that I hope we all can embrace as believers today.

(Stay tuned for part two of THE BRIDGE tomorrow right here on StreamingFaith.com!)

Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing north, Milan is scheduled to release his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing, the fall of 2009. You can find Milan blogging at ThePewView.com.

ANSWERED PRAYER GUARANTEED!

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

There has been a traditional idea that praying is praying, prayer is prayer, and if you pray, you pray and that is it. However, there are different kinds of prayers, just like there are different kinds of sports, and each kind of prayer, like each sport, has specific and definite rules that govern and control their success. If you misapply the prayer rules your prayer will not work.

Too many Christians do not understand this prayer concept and think they have to end every prayer with "...if it be thy will". But I'm frank to tell you that not every prayer should be ended with "if it be thy will" despite what you have heard in the past. When you're praying individually what's called the prayer of faith, you should never end it with 'if it be thy will' because if you do, it won't work, it won't compute.

The only time Jesus used "if it be thy will" was when He was praying the prayer of consecration and dedication. In this type of prayer you could legitimately use "if it be thy will." The reason being is that you might not know what is the will of God for your ministry life.

The prayer of consecration and dedication is a prayer that has to do with fulfilling God's purpose and desire for your life. You wouldn't use "if it be thy will" in reference to a job or where you are going to live or anything like that. God doesn't care where you live. God can use you anywhere you live or work. There are probably folk at AT&T, General Motors, Chrysler Corporation, Sony Corporation who need to be saved. So God can use you anywhere you choose to work or live.

In regards to the prayer of faith let us read I John 5:14-15: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

As I have said time and time again, our words are so very important and even more so when it comes to praying and the confession that follows our prayers. A person once asked me, "Pastor Price, it says in verse 15 that 'if we know' then why can't we pray I know that I have received." Well, because the Word of God says I have to "believe" the Word. The reason our confession is stated in this manner is to claim in faith what God has already fulfilled by His Word. Verse 14-15 again, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us...." How do we know that He hears us? Well, God said He did. But you may say, "I never heard the Father say He heard me." Since we never heard God talk to us personally, we have to believe that He heard us, don't we? Therefore, it is a matter of our faith in His Word.

Well on my end I know He heard me because He said He did. I know it but I only know it by faith because I read it in His Word. But I don't have it in manifestation, so I have to believe what I see in the Word and claim it.

Therefore, my confession has to be "I believe it." The reason I believe I have whatever I prayed for is because His Word told me to "know it." As you can see that knowing is still based on a faith proposition at this point; because I don't have whatever I prayed for yet. I don't have it tangible in my hands so I still have to believe it, in accordance with Mark 11:24: "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

You must keep in mind that believing is not a matter of feelings or emotions; it's a matter of your will. It's an act of your will. You can believe anything you will to believe and you can disbelieve anything you will to disbelieve. Your feelings, your emotions have nothing to do with it. It's an act of the will. You must will to believe God's Word and confess His Word over the circumstances of life. This is what will bring to pass the promises of God in your life.

This article was excerpted from Dr. Price's teaching, "Answered Prayer Guaranteed!" now available in book, DVD and CD products. Please call us at (800) 927-3436 or visit our website at

www.faithdome.org for a complete list of his products.

Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center West in Los Angeles and CCC East in Manhattan. To obtain more information about his ministry, please call (800) 927-3436 or visit www.faithdome.org. Click here to browse and purchase MP3 sermons by Dr. Frederick K.C. Price!

Here's Hoping

Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

We secure our friends, not by accepting favors, but by doing them.

Dear children,

My child, I love you.
I love you good or bad with no strings attached.
I love you like this because I know all about you,
I have known you ever since you were a child.
I know what I can do for you and
I know what I want to do for you.

My Child, I accept you.
I accept you just as you are.
You don't need to change yourself,
I'll do the changing when you are ready.
I love you just as you are.
Believe this, for I assure you it is true.

My child, I care about you.
I care about every big and little thing which happens to you.
I care enough to do something about it.
Remember this,
I will help you when you need me
ASK ME!
I love you, I accept you, I care about you.

My child, I forgive you.
I forgive you and my forgiveness is complete.
It is not like that of humans who forgive but cannnot forget.
I love you and my arms are open with love that asks
Please come here! Come here to me!
I forgive you.
Do not carry your guilt another moment,
I carried it all for you on the Cross.
Believe this. It is true!

Love,
God

IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND

Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

Your mind holds tremendous creative ability. That's why God gave you an imagination--so that you could create mental pictures, add faith to them and see those pictures manifest in your life.
Once you have an image in your mind of something you want to do or become, nothing can stop that image from coming to pass. Whatever you meditate on will become the blueprint for your reality. Too often, though, Christians suffer from "stinking thinking." They give the devil control of their minds by meditating on thoughts that do not line up with the Word of God. Then they reap the results of the curse because their carnal mindset produces the fruit of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21.

To keep the devil from gaining a foothold in your life, you must develop a sound mind that is completely controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit. In other words, you must renew your mind with the Word of God. Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." When you become born again, your spirit instantly changes; you are recreated in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yet your mind is not recreated. You must conform your thinking continually and on purpose; it is not an overnight, one-time event. Renewing your mind to God's Word every day is vital. By reading the Scriptures and meditating on them thoroughly, your thinking will be transformed to line up with the mind of Christ. And when you have the mind of Christ, you can do anything!

When you set your mind on the Word of God, you'll also experience soul prosperity and peace (3 John 2). The Bible says that the issues of life flow out of the heart (Proverbs 4:23). The word heart in this scripture actually refers to your soul--your mind, your will and your emotions. If you can control your mind, you can control your destiny. But it will take a quality decision on your part to dedicate your life to changing the way you think.
First Thessalonians 5:23 says, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is God's will that your mind, will and emotions be whole, with nothing missing or broken. As a Believer, you can receive a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). It is then up to you to enforce and maintain soundness of mind by keeping your thoughts and imaginations in line with God and His Word (Isaiah 26:3).

When your mind is focused and directed by the Word, you will position yourself for success. You'll have wisdom, discernment, insight and the ability to accomplish anything. A renewed, Word-controlled mind guarantees abundance and prosperity in every area of your life. Don't let another day go by without a daily dose of meditation. Set your mind on the Word of God and let it become the focal point of your life and purpose!

Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, 25,000 member church in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning "Changing Your World" television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org to learn more. Click here to browse and purchase Books, CDs, and DVDs by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar!