Luke 2:9-12 (ESV)
"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'"
Merry CHRISTmas my family in Christ:) That sweet little baby lying in a manger so very long ago grew to become a man who died for OUR sins after living a sinless life. I am praying that each and every one of you are blessed with the most wonderful Christmas. I pray that your day has gone wonderfully and that as you wind down this afternoon you are filled with the most blessed peace. Thank you for all of the prayers that you contribute to this ministry and to myself. God has truly blessed me to be able to do this. I love each and every one of you with the love that Christ has given me to do so and will continue to pray for all of you. God bless you all and once again. Merry Christmas:)
Love in Christ,
Kelcy
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
This Is a Rebel Generation
Wow, isn't that the truth? Don't say no because you know, I know, and more importantly God knows that you would be lying. You see God spoke to me last night, calling me to open my Message bible. I didn't know why but I knew God would guide me. Eventually I wound up in Isaiah staring at a heading in chapter 30 which is what I put as the title of this post. I'm going to let you read what I read and then we're going to talk about it.
Isaiah 30:8-11 (MSG)
So, go now and write all this down.
Put it in a book
So that the record will be there
to instruct the coming generation,
Because this is a rebel generation,
a people who lie,
A people unwilling to listen
to anything God tells them.
They tell their spiritual leaders,
"Don't bother us with irrelevancies."
They tell their preachers,
"Don't waste our time on impracticalities.
Tell us what makes us feel better.
Don't bore us with obsolete religion.
That stuff means nothing to us.
Quit hounding us with The Holy of Israel."
I have underlined the same things here as I did in my bible. It is so obvious that we are a, if not the rebellious generation that Isaiah spoke of here in chapter 30. Not only are we a generation that rebels, we always want everything right now. Not later, NOW. Let's even stop calling it our generation and start calling it what it is, a rebellious culture. Not just one generation but everyone. We refuse to look at the bigger picture. Verse 10 says this:
Isaiah 30:10 (MSG)
They tell their spiritual leaders,
"Don't bother us with irrelevancies."
They tell their preachers,
"Don't waste our time on impracticalities.
Tell us what makes us feel better.
"Tell us what makes us feel better." That's us. Sin and the ways of this world are nothing but a drug waiting to take us captive by the lies and deceit they produce. Getting us hooked with empty promises of a "fix" that'll finally take, that will satisfy our wants and needs and desires, that will fulfill our every dream. They are a drug that Satan deals telling us what we want to hear so that we'll buy in. Promising us immediate effects. Let's look at the same verse in the New Living Translation.
Isaiah 30:10 (NLT)
They tell the seers,
"Stop seeing visions!"
They tell the prophets,
"Don't tell us what is right.
Tell us nice things.
Tell us lies.
I want to really focus on just the last part of that verse. "Tell us nice things. Tell us lies." Sound familiar? More often that not in this day and age though people say they want the truth and your "honest opinion" they want you to lie. Because, the truth hurts, and sometimes, quite often actually, the truth tends to be ugly. Therefore we want to be told nice things. It's exactly as verse 11 says.
Isaiah 30:11 (NLT)
Forget all this gloom.
Get off your narrow path.
Stop telling us about your
'Holy One of Israel.' "
Too many people want off the narrow path. Even more want to knock those who are on it off. They want to forget all of the horrible stuff around them, they want to ignore it. They even say "Stop telling us about your 'Holy One of Israel.' " But look at the response in verses 12 and 13
Isaiah 30:12-13
This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel:
"Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies,
calamity will come upon you suddenly
like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.
In an instant it will collapse
and come crashing down."
See what we want is to "Trust instead in oppression and lies." The message says "preferring to live by injustice and shape your lives on lies..." You see, you want to be fed the lies, you want to be told the "nice things" that will make you "feel better", preferably NOW. But, the problem is all your doing is buying the drug and getting your fix for now. It isn't a permanent fix. So you'll just keep going back, over and over, every time you stop "feeling better", a vicious little cycle.
Let's look at the big picture, take a little reality check if you will.
The "feel good" junkies. The ones who want the lies to make em' feel good now, caution to the wind, they want their fix and they want it now. Here is your reality check. Sure you feel good now. Your still riding a high from a fix the world has given you. Before long you'll be looking for more, shoving off what you need to hear for what you want to hear. Overall you are still living in a miserable, depressing state. Here is what's going to happen. You'll keep getting your fix until one day your sentenced to an eternity with fire, no peace, no happiness, no love, no compassion, and no more "feel good" fixes.
Now, lets look at the alternative Life with God. A life that though it isn't perfect is filled with love in even the darkest of times. Where the aforementioned 'feel good junkie' falls and has no strength to get up we find strength in Jehovah Jireh the Lord our provider. We have a God that will never make a promise that He doesn't intend to keep. Life with a God who speaks to us out of the storm (Job 38:1). A God who can satisfy our needs, and even fulfill our dreams if they are in line with His will. No, life isn't going to be constantly happy, sunshine and rainbows. In fact, I've got news for you, It has to RAIN before you see the RAINbow. Yes, you have to listen to the truth, which isn't always going to be pretty. But this is what happens in the end. Your given the gift of eternal life, eternity with God, the ONE TRUE KING. In a place where you reunite with lost loved ones. Where there is light, a peace that surpasses all understanding, unspeakable joy, and amazing love. I don't even know what else, I can't even begin to imagine how great it is going to be, how AWESOME it is going to be. No more pain, no more suffering...
So which would you rather have? I've chosen mine.
Isaiah 30:15 (MSG)
God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me The very thing you've been unwilling to do"
Stop being unwilling!! Turn back to God! For some, you need to turn to Him for the first time. Stop trying to save yourselves because it's not possible!! Settle down in complete dependence on God. I promise you will not regret it. Just talk to Him.
I'm praying for you friend...unceasingly praying. May God bless you and yours exceeding abundantly. Love you today in Jesus my friend:)
Isaiah 30:18 (NLT)
So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Friday, May 03, 2013
Can You Ever Forgive Yourself?
I want you all to consider something. It's not something hard or even something new, in fact it's something that most, if not all of you have heard throughout your lives. God forgives. If you will sincerely ask, and if you will humble yourself and ask for Him to have mercy and forgive you, He will!
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
In fact! His word tells us that He not only forgives the sin He 'blots out our sin, and remembers it no more'
Isaiah 43:25 (NASB)
"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins."
Hebrews 10:17 (NASB)
"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
I'm reading a book right now called 'Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of GOD' by Francis Frangipane. It's a great book and I encourage you all to read it but I want to put something that I read in here.
How awesome is that?!? He doesn't remember your sin!!! Some of you need to go back and read that a few thousand times, just that one sentence. Go ahead, I promise you won't miss anything, I'll wait...... Some of you need to take that into your heart and hold it their.
The enemy is called the great accuser for a reason. He will bring up something that is buried so deep in your past it shouldn't even be in your memory bank. God has already forgiven you, and yet when Satan brings up your sin he makes sure to fill you with guilt and shame, chaining that sin to you so that it drags you down.
I want you to imagine, just for a minute Jesus looking at you with tear filled eyes, pain stricken across his face and saying "can you ever, forgive yourself?" STOP!!!! Go ahead and go back, because some of you assumed and skipped over that last part. NOT 'forgive me.' but 'forgive yourself' How can God forgive and forget our sin if you don't put it behind you and accept and embrace His forgiveness? Now imagine Him again, the same look of pain except this time I want you to do something that might be quite hard for some of you, I want you to imagine the crown of thorns on His head, the blood running down His face, imagine Him, just for a moment, beaten beyond recognition. Now, imagine Him saying "I died so that my father could forgive you. He sent me to save you. PLEASE accept His forgiveness." It hurts doesn't it. You can almost hear the hammer hitting the nails. Some of you may say this is too far, but that image, is what happened to our savior so that we could be saved!! What is the truth even worth if we water it down or make it 'pretty'. The answer is NOTHING! Watered down truth is nothing but a lie.
I want to do something a little different to close this post. Below I have typed two prayers one is for believers/followers you can put it any way you want, this is just to give you can idea, this is my prayer. The second prayer is for the non-believers, the non followers who want to trust God and follow Him. For those who want to accept and embrace the fathers forgiveness. You may know it well because it is the prayer of salvation.
Believers/followers prayer:
God I'm so sorry. You have so willingly forgiven me and yet I allow the enemy to convict me of my past sins, I allow him to chain me to it and drag me down. Forgive me, not just for my sins but for taking what your son did for granted. You sent Him to pour out His blood, to be brutally beaten, and nailed to a cross so that we could be saved! I love you Lord. I am so thankful that you love me enough to blot out my sins. Help me to never again take for granted what you did for us. In your sons most precious, beautiful, MIGHTY name I pray, Amen.
Prayer of salvation (if you need to reaffirm your faith as a believer that's okay too:))
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, and right now, I want to turn from my sins and open my heart and life toward you and accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving me.
I want to personally welcome you to the family of Christ!! This really truly is the best decision you will ever make. Please understand that because you have made this decision does not mean that life is going to be easy. The enemy fights what he doesn't like and he really doesn't like what you just did. But trust in the father and He will give you a strength unlike any other! I want to encourage you to get plugged in with a church that is available to you, sometimes you may not feel comfortable in that church and you may want to try a different church and that's okay. You may like the first church you go to and feel at home there, don't give up. Let God lead you. Listen to the still small voice within you, He will make sure you are where He wants you. Don't just profess your faith friend live it!! He loves you unlike any other:) I'm praying for you, and if you'd like feel free to contact me (info in announcement section) I'm always willing to pray with you.
I want to leave you with this verse that I find very encouraging and I hope you will find it encouraging as well:
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
May our father bless you with peace, strength, courage, and boldness! I love you in Jesus today friend!!!! =)
*Please excuse any typos that may be in the bit from 'Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of GOD' the bit comes from page(s) 34 starting in the second paragraph and ending on page 35 with the first two lines of the page.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
In fact! His word tells us that He not only forgives the sin He 'blots out our sin, and remembers it no more'
Isaiah 43:25 (NASB)
"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins."
Hebrews 10:17 (NASB)
"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
I'm reading a book right now called 'Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of GOD' by Francis Frangipane. It's a great book and I encourage you all to read it but I want to put something that I read in here.
**"Let me share an experience. A certain man of God had been gifted with revelatory insight into people's lives. During an evening service he ministered to a Presbyterian pastor and his wife. By the gift of the Spirit, he revealed the couple's past, uncovered their present situation, and then disclosed to them what was to come. This work of God greatly impressed the couple, and as the prophecies were fulfilled, one month later the Presbyterian minister brought two other pastors, each with their wives, to another service for personal ministry. The word of knowledge was exceptionally sure that night, and the second minister and his wife marveled at the accuracy and truth in the prophetic word. The third couple stepped forward for ministry, and again the word of knowledge was present. The prophet spoke to the husband, revealing his past, present, and insight into his future. Then the man of God turned to this third minister's wife. As he began to speak of her past, suddenly he stopped. 'There was a very serious sin in your past.' The woman, with her worst fear upon her, turned pale and closed her eyes. The congregation hushed and moved to the edge of their seats. The prophet continued, 'And I asked the Lord, 'What was this sin that she committed ' And the Lord answered, 'I do not remember!'''**
How awesome is that?!? He doesn't remember your sin!!! Some of you need to go back and read that a few thousand times, just that one sentence. Go ahead, I promise you won't miss anything, I'll wait...... Some of you need to take that into your heart and hold it their.
The enemy is called the great accuser for a reason. He will bring up something that is buried so deep in your past it shouldn't even be in your memory bank. God has already forgiven you, and yet when Satan brings up your sin he makes sure to fill you with guilt and shame, chaining that sin to you so that it drags you down.
I want you to imagine, just for a minute Jesus looking at you with tear filled eyes, pain stricken across his face and saying "can you ever, forgive yourself?" STOP!!!! Go ahead and go back, because some of you assumed and skipped over that last part. NOT 'forgive me.' but 'forgive yourself' How can God forgive and forget our sin if you don't put it behind you and accept and embrace His forgiveness? Now imagine Him again, the same look of pain except this time I want you to do something that might be quite hard for some of you, I want you to imagine the crown of thorns on His head, the blood running down His face, imagine Him, just for a moment, beaten beyond recognition. Now, imagine Him saying "I died so that my father could forgive you. He sent me to save you. PLEASE accept His forgiveness." It hurts doesn't it. You can almost hear the hammer hitting the nails. Some of you may say this is too far, but that image, is what happened to our savior so that we could be saved!! What is the truth even worth if we water it down or make it 'pretty'. The answer is NOTHING! Watered down truth is nothing but a lie.
I want to do something a little different to close this post. Below I have typed two prayers one is for believers/followers you can put it any way you want, this is just to give you can idea, this is my prayer. The second prayer is for the non-believers, the non followers who want to trust God and follow Him. For those who want to accept and embrace the fathers forgiveness. You may know it well because it is the prayer of salvation.
Believers/followers prayer:
God I'm so sorry. You have so willingly forgiven me and yet I allow the enemy to convict me of my past sins, I allow him to chain me to it and drag me down. Forgive me, not just for my sins but for taking what your son did for granted. You sent Him to pour out His blood, to be brutally beaten, and nailed to a cross so that we could be saved! I love you Lord. I am so thankful that you love me enough to blot out my sins. Help me to never again take for granted what you did for us. In your sons most precious, beautiful, MIGHTY name I pray, Amen.
Prayer of salvation (if you need to reaffirm your faith as a believer that's okay too:))
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, and right now, I want to turn from my sins and open my heart and life toward you and accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving me.
I want to personally welcome you to the family of Christ!! This really truly is the best decision you will ever make. Please understand that because you have made this decision does not mean that life is going to be easy. The enemy fights what he doesn't like and he really doesn't like what you just did. But trust in the father and He will give you a strength unlike any other! I want to encourage you to get plugged in with a church that is available to you, sometimes you may not feel comfortable in that church and you may want to try a different church and that's okay. You may like the first church you go to and feel at home there, don't give up. Let God lead you. Listen to the still small voice within you, He will make sure you are where He wants you. Don't just profess your faith friend live it!! He loves you unlike any other:) I'm praying for you, and if you'd like feel free to contact me (info in announcement section) I'm always willing to pray with you.
I want to leave you with this verse that I find very encouraging and I hope you will find it encouraging as well:
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
May our father bless you with peace, strength, courage, and boldness! I love you in Jesus today friend!!!! =)
*Please excuse any typos that may be in the bit from 'Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of GOD' the bit comes from page(s) 34 starting in the second paragraph and ending on page 35 with the first two lines of the page.
Friday, February 08, 2013
Short FB Post
Some of you may have already seen this on my facebook, but I wanted to post it on here as well because I want more than just the friends on my facebook to see it. I want everyone no matter who to be able to see it, and I pray that it will touch someones heart. It's a very short post but here you go:
SO happy and blessed! I just wanted to share that even if you aren't rich, even if you don't live in a three story house with a huge amount of land and even if you don't have the most amazing things, God gave you breath every single time you drew breath in today. That's him!! (Job 34:14-15) Look around you, there are tiny blessings that you may have missed today! Don't take them for granted because even the smallest blessing from God, is H-U-G-E!! I have an amazing family that I live with, family that God has blessed me with all around, I have a worship ministry family, even if I don't know all of them, an amazing family in Sunday school. Just because you don't know them that well doesn't mean they aren't your family. We are all family through God! I got to go and worship with family today!!! In my heavenly fathers house at that!!! NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO ENJOY THAT BLESSING!!! BE THANKFUL. He has given me more joy then I can contain and I am so blessed to be able to say that! May He bless you all exceeding abundantly as well:) Praise God He has given you another day:)
May our almighty father bless you exceeding abundantly. And may you put your trust in Him, today and everyday! =)
SO happy and blessed! I just wanted to share that even if you aren't rich, even if you don't live in a three story house with a huge amount of land and even if you don't have the most amazing things, God gave you breath every single time you drew breath in today. That's him!! (Job 34:14-15) Look around you, there are tiny blessings that you may have missed today! Don't take them for granted because even the smallest blessing from God, is H-U-G-E!! I have an amazing family that I live with, family that God has blessed me with all around, I have a worship ministry family, even if I don't know all of them, an amazing family in Sunday school. Just because you don't know them that well doesn't mean they aren't your family. We are all family through God! I got to go and worship with family today!!! In my heavenly fathers house at that!!! NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO ENJOY THAT BLESSING!!! BE THANKFUL. He has given me more joy then I can contain and I am so blessed to be able to say that! May He bless you all exceeding abundantly as well:) Praise God He has given you another day:)
May our almighty father bless you exceeding abundantly. And may you put your trust in Him, today and everyday! =)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Christ Is Risen - Death: His Sting & Defeat (Feat. Spoken Word Poet Davi...
I just wanted to share this video and though some of you may not like it I found it to be a moving video. Though the song itself is good it's not the same without the pause for the poetry. Hope it blesses you the way it did me. :)
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