A Thought for Thursday: Play Your Position

"And he went a little further, fell on his face and prayed, saying O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39

The other day as I mulled over certain situations in my life and the outcome I desired from the situation the Lord dropped a nugget of his infinite wisdom in my spirit, "you are in a place of expectancy but not in a position to receive." Of course, I looked around for a few moments shocked that Lord would say a thing like that to me (until he called me out I thought I was doing just fine). But, the truth of the matter is I was not in a position to receive anything from God because I was not playing my position.

The only job I have is to rest in Him. The only job I have is to do what He requires of me and sometimes that may be a bit more painful and more tedious than my original plan but his plan and rewards are eternal. If we expect to receive from the Lord then we must be willing to do what He requires of us.

The road to the goal line might be tough, we may be tackled some times but we must be like our Lord Jesus Christ who endured the cross who recognized in his humanity that it was not going to a pleasing experience yet he went through anyway. He accepted his position as a sacrificial lamb for my sins and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. It is through total submission Jesus was able to walk with the Father and victorious. When we play our position we will experience the same results. 

This Thursday think on this: am I playing my position? 

You ought to be on this team because this is the team that guarantees a victory every time!

Testimony Tuesdays: It's a New Day

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22, 23 KJV)

Today I want to testify to God's goodness, to his bountiful grace, and mercy that he extends toward me. This morning I opened my eyes to a new day, a new year, and new mercies.

Not because of any goodness of my own or that I have been faithful but because of His faithfulness and his desire to see me saved. Thank you, Lord!

And God bless the folks at youversion.com the verse of the day was completely in sync with my testimony today. If you don't have a Bible app on your phone I recommend theirs.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Happy New Year from The Carpenter's House!

Sent from my iPhone

New Year’s Declaration: I Dare You to Declare

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21

 

On the eve of a new year full of hope and possibilities often we make vows to ourselves that we are unable to keep because of our weak of arm of flesh. Think of all the promises you made to yourself but were unable to keep them alive because of the time, because of your other obligations, and a whole host of other excuses. They were all good ideas that would have changed your life dramatically had you been able to keep them, but as the bible warns us the arm of flesh will fail you—including your own, but praise be to God there is one greater who is able to keep all that we commit to him.

This year instead of making a resolution for your future make a declaration declare to live a blessed life, a full life, a prosperous life, in Jesus name. Last year I found this declaration lying around in a computer lab and it spoke to me. It spoke to where I was in my life at that time and I can truly say that through Christ everything that I declared would happen to me in 2012 did.

I dare you to use the power in your tongue to make some declarations for the year to come.

 

I declare in the name of Jesus

That I will be blessed with God's supernatural wisdom and

Clear direction for living.

I will be blessed with Creativity, Vision, Ability,

And Abundance.

I will be blessed with Self-control and Self-discipline.

I will be blessed with Great family, Good friends,

And Good health.

I will be blessed with Faith, Favor, and Fulfillment.

I will be blessed with Promotion, Supernatural Strength

And Divine Protection.

I will be blessed with a Compassionate heart and a Positive

Outlook on life.

I declare that everything Input my hand to do on the coming

New Year will prosper beyond my expectations.

 

I declare that with God all things are possible!

In Jesus name, Amen.

(author unknown)