Is Anything Too Hard For God?

Hard: difficult to perform, endure, or comprehend.

Throughout the Bible, there are a number of examples of the Lord asking His people if there was anything that He couldn't do. The Lord asked Abraham, is anything too hard for the Lord? As the Lord spoke with Jeremiah, He asked him, is there anything too hard for me? We get his answer in Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." The word hold true to this very day, there's nothing too hard for God.

There is also no promise that is too hard for God to keep. In Genesis chapter 18, we are reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised Abraham a son with Sarah, when he was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety. Picking up the story in verse 10 of that chapter; "And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him... Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?... Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Those of us who are familiar know that’s exactly what happened!

Our gracious Lord woke us up this morning. If you think you woke yourself up when your alarm went off, try this one day - take your alarm clock to the cemetery and see just how many people get up when your alarm goes off. It was definitely not you or your alarm - that was the work of God! Let's allow that to serve as a reminder for us that there is nothing (not any thing, no part or portion. In no way, not at all) that is too hard for God. If some of those five thousand men (not counting women and children) were here; those men who were in the desert, hungry and tired when Jesus feed them with those two small fishes and five loaves of bread; they would surely attest there’s nothing too hard for God! Matthew 14: 19.

My friends, God’s power is limitless; there is no person He can’t change, no problem He can’t solve, and no situation He can’t fix! Just as He did for Abraham and Sarah, and those five thousand in the desert, He will do for me and you. There is nothing too hard for God and there is no promise He can’t keep!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!            

Live A Fasted Life - Part 2

Fast: to abstain from physical nourishment

Let's pick up where we left off last week - living a fasted life. As we talked about last week, there are SO many things we need to fast from, but we are only going to hit on four of them right now. As you remember, we started by talking about gossiping.

In addition to gossiping, we also need to take some time and fast from lying - telling untruths. There are certain things that the Lord hates as noted in Proverbs 6:17 - a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. Not only does God hate lying, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). As you can see, gossiping and lying are serious things with God, therefore there is a great need for us to fast from them.

We definitely need to fast from holding grudges and not wanting to forgive each other. Forgiveness itself means to pardon, to give up resentment, or a gift. Would you believe that there are some people out there who get great pleasure out of not forgiving others? This is because it feels good to the flesh... or so we think! So many times we are angry with people and they don't even have a clue. In essence, it's like we're carrying them around on our backs and in our thoughts. We are weighted down with this anger we are carrying against them and they are going on enjoying their lives without even so much as a thought of us! Have you ever been there?! Forgiveness is our path for healing, not to mention, when we don't choose to forgive we are putting limits on ourselves, for if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." So let's fast from holding grudges and practice forgiveness instead.

Last, but very not least, let's remember to fast from Complaining (an outcry or protest). God gets no glory out of our complaining, and yet it's so common among us that many of us are not even aware of when we're complaining - to us it just feels like we're having a normal conversation - we complain when it rains and we complain when it doesn't rain. We complain when it's too hot, and then we complain when it's too cold. We complain about being overweight, and we complain when we can't find anything sweet to eat after dinner! What we are really doing is complaining because things are not EXACTLY the way we want them to be. We have to stop acting on our feelings and act on the way things really are, because things will constantly change, but the truth will always remain the same! One of those truths can be found in 1Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Complaining is a poor attitude and completely opposite of what we are suppose to do!

I'll leave you with this: 1 Timothy 6:11, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Live A Fasted Life - Part I

Fast: to abstain from physical nourishment.

The Bible tells us to fast, or, as the definition above says, to abstain from physical nourishment. Jesus said that there are things that come only through fasting and praying (Matthew 17:21). So that helps us establish the fact that we should fast. Did you know that when we are on a fast that we are not supposed to do the pleasurable things that we would normally do if we were not fasting? That's because we are to use this time to consecrate ourselves or devote ourselves exclusively to the Lord.

Now, usually when we fast, we do so with a specific purpose in mind - maybe it's for a healing or blessing for ourselves, or perhaps it's for deliverance or support for someone else. On occasions, I fast just to show thanks for what the Lord has already done for me. As I'm fasting, I have certain promises  that pertain to my request that I rehearse back to the Lord.

This week, I want to talk to you about how good it would be if we could live a fasted life - not just fasting for a specific moment in time. For instance, how great would it be if we could fast from gossiping, forgiveness, lying, and complaining, and stand on the scriptures about each one of these?? Just think about it... it might be trickier than I sounds. In fact, when I told my daughter what this week's blog was going to be about, she said, "now what am I supposed to do on those days?" She finished up with, "I guess I'll stay locked up in the house on those days, I won't even talk on the phone!" Can anyone else out there relate?!

Let's take gossiping: Proverbs 11:13 tells us that we "a talebearer, revealeth of secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." You see, gossiping can reveal secrets that have the power to break up long term relationships and separate close friends. That's because our words have lasting wounds. So. let's do ourselves a favor and fast from gossiping - not just one day, but every day!

Do you realize that often when we are telling embarrassing or shameful details about others without their knowledge or approval - it's gossip? Even when/if you mean no harm to him or her. The bible warns us against associating with talebearer: "He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips" Proverbs 20:19.

As you can see, its extremely important that we constantly fast from gossiping. We could easily hurt others, not to mention what we are doing to our relationship with the Lord. He takes no pleasure in it, so let's do our best to refrain from it.

Next week, we will continue with the other three woes.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Live With A Purpose!

Live: to be alive, to be active
Purpose: a desired goal, an intention

You probably hear every day of people who appear to be living with no direction or no desired goals; people who seem to be going through life aimlessly - not really living or enjoying God's beautiful creations. Whether we have one dollar in our pocket or one million, there should still be joy and a real purpose for our lives. Although people might feel like if they don't have a pocket full of money, they are not being blessed, but I'm here to tell you that such thinking is not the case. Blessings are not always monetary. In fact, I would venture to say that if you wake up in the land of the living, then you are being blessed, because that means that you still have an opportunity to repent for your sins, to be thankful, and to be alive with a purpose - then that's being blessed!

I feel like we would be tremendously blessed if we woke up each day saying, "Lord, it's not what you can do for me, but instead what would you have me to do for you today? Often times, we forget that we were not created for ourselves, but we were created for the Glory of God and for His purpose! With that In mind, we should approach everything that the Lord lays on our hearts to do with a cheerful heart and purpose... and that purpose should always be to please our Heavenly Father.

You may not be working right now, but that does not justify you having a pity party. We must instead expect things to turn around and for new doors to be opened. Maybe your situation isn't that you don't have a job - it could be a sickness in our body, or maybe our finances are very low. Whatever the case may be, we are all still blessed because we serve a living God who owns everything in Heaven and in earth. Everything includes jobs, sickness, and finance problems, so be thankful and remember that He said in His word that He would be our provider - it's up to us to give Him that opportunity to provide for us.

Live with a purpose, my friends. And if you feel like you don't have a purpose or like you don't have anything specific to live for - well then, live for Jesus and wait for Him to give you the purpose that He wants you to have. Let's not drag our feet by moping around and complaining about this or that, because it's too easy to lose our focus when we are not living each day with a purpose. Our main intention should always be to be thankful and to ask God for direction, because it's within those directions we will likely find our purpose!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!