My Proclamation

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:17-23

This verse is a glimpse into the life that we are called to and the proclamation to which we should be clinging to. Christ spoke scripture out loud so that His words would not return to Him void. He proclaimed scripture because it is TRUTH. 2 Corinthians 4:13 "It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak." Speak the words of God in your life and situations. Confessing to faith leads to confession of faith. God's words is a two-edged sword, not against others but against the evils in this world, Hebrews 4:12. Out of our mouths comes a two edged sword, Revelation 1:16.
There are so many examples and commands that we speak Gods Word. Mark 11:23-24 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
When we speak our words will not return to us void, just as Christs words did not return void. Isaiah 55:11 "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
 Our words hold power because Christ is power and He lives within us. How much more powerful would our words be when we speak God's Word to any circumstance in our life; Proclaiming sickness, death, oppression, anxiety, fear, depression, anything that does not come from the Lord.

What are we waiting for.....SPEAK

This is my Prayer

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
 This is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
 I will bring praise

I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
 All of my life

In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship 

 I will bring praise

I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here 

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

I need to see the Holes

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

I am Thomas. I am a disciple of God who needs proof to believe He is still alive. I hear stories from others about the miracles God has worked in and among them and because I have not seen them myself, I doubt. I do not doubt the existence of God for I know that He has worked many times in my life, I do however plead to see His “holes”. I want so much for Christ to reveal Himself to me to prove He is with me. I yearn to see the greater things He has promised us in John 14:12. But here’s the thing, I do not lack faith, for I have faith. What I lack is the trust that God will make perfect my faith. I fear that I am never going to receive the gifts of the Spirit. But I hold strong to the Word of God which time and again defeats my anxiety and fear and covers it with hope and boldness.

We are heirs of God, sons of the living God! Because of this truth we do not have a spirit of fear because our spirit is of Christ. Our spirit testifies on our behalf. Because our spirit is also God’s spirit and knows better than our heart, it testifies to our Lord for us! This is speaking in tongues, when our words fail us, when our heart is troubled, our spirit cries out for us to our father, Screaming ABBAH! With this promise of heirship we inherit not only Christ’s forgiveness and eternal destiny but we also inherit His spirit and through His spirit we are conquers of this world. Through His spirit we receive the gifts He has given us. Our faith is not circumstantial nor is it’s growth based on believing. Our faith was given to us when we received Christ as Lord of our lives. In him our faith is made perfect and complete because He is the author and perfecter of our faith.

When we ask we must believe, not on the circumstances but in the power of God who has overcome the world. We must believe the promise Christ made that when we ask, we will receive. If we believe because of circumstances in our lives or others lives we WILL NOT RECEIVE, we are a double-minded man unstable in all we do. We can not say I believe it will happen because it happened for a friend, nor can we say I don’t believe I will receive because I never have. We simply need to build our faith by continually adding to it, not by testing God or His commands but by following His commands. We are to add to our faith goodness; to goodness, knowledge; to knowledge, self control; to self control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. All these things come from God and are made perfect by God. We need all of these to know God. But if we do not have these Christ says that we are nearsighted and blind, and have forgotten that we are cleansed from past sins.

I began writing this and had to stop after the first paragraph. It took  a week before I could continue writing. I had to search God’s word and pray so that I could know God. I had to seek what His will is for me so that I can pray His will. I think that there is a “doubting Thomas” in each of us because we are human. Christ knows this, that is why He shows His power through signs and wonders, “so that we might see and believe”. Thomas gets a bad rap but I think he was simply not basing His faith on circumstances. He asked God to show him so that he might believe and that is exactly what Jesus did. We are to believe that Christ wants us to believe. He wants to reveal himself to us. We just need to stop doubting and put our trust in the God who has overcome the world

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

A kiss means more than love

Just a few feet from the railroad tracks is a place called Sa Kaew. In this community, known as the slums, live some of the most precious gifts of God. The children gather every Saturday morning on a basketball court to play, laugh and learn. Myself, along with some friends, sing songs, act crazy, teach English and share God’s love with them. They have captured my heart and bring me joy every time I see them. For a brief period they are kids, not poor, hungry, sad, lonely or needing, they’re just kids.

As I was leaving I bent down to give a little girl, whom I had been playing with, a kiss on the cheek. As soon as I kissed her she immediately grabbed my neck and pulled me down to her level and kissed my cheek. I apparently opened the flood gates because every little girl there came running and begging for a kiss and hug. They wanted to receive one and give one in return. My heart broke when not only the girls but the little boys came to wait for a hug and kiss on the cheek. It was so simple compared to all the other things we had done that day, but yet it was the thing that had the most impact. They followed me to the van and continued to hug and kiss me, asking if I would be back the next week. I didn’t want to leave them, they were so precious and innocent. All they wanted was affection.

When I think about that day and how that simple action brought so much joy to their faces, I think about how much people want to feel loved, worthy, fulfilled, accepted. I think about how often we fail to show others how much they mean to us and how much we love them. I think about how God never fails to show His love, even when we don’t feel like we deserve it. I think about how God made us in His image and when He lives in us we should act like it. I don’t know if those children have ever received a simple hug and kiss on the cheek, if they have ever felt loved, if they have ever had a chance to give love, but I will continue to love simply so that others can one day love and be loved greatly in hopes that they will one day experience the greatest love of all, Christ.