Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 20, 2009 (Day Seventeen)

Dr. Bill Bright said, “Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.” There are also tremendous physical benefits. Ron Lagerquist wrote this enlightening paragraph, “During fasting, toxins are loosened and cleansed from the body, cell by cell, even within deep tissue. The process hurts as by-products enter into the blood. Feelings of weakness, even discouragement, accompany a fasting dip. It is during this time people often give up the fast, dispirited. In the same way, old emotions, memories and hurts are stirred. Why this happens is a mystery. It could be a combination of radical change in lifestyle, slowdown, mental clarity, and the working of the Holy Spirit. Connections are made between a harmful past experience and present encumbrances. They are powerful moments of awakening, and the strengthened fingers of the will are able to skillfully undo the knots that bind, finding new freedom. We discover new strength, convincing a tired hope that one is never too old for remarkable change.” Fasting has both spiritual and physical benefits that are powerful. Add prayer to that mix and you have a life explosion of purpose and power.

It is vital that you engage in prayer during your fasting. As your flesh weakens, that process becomes a gateway for the Holy Spirit to actually lead your prayers in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-28 reveals this to us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know for what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our heart knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” The depth to which you are willing to go in prayer is the gauge that signals your detachment from earthly ties. As those earthly ties are cut away, prayer brings the clarity of revelation. Everything we need can be accessed through prayer. We have no greater need than that of God’s healing and forgiveness. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises us, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

On this seventeenth day of Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer lift your voice and cry out to God for every area of your life. Your fasting has exposed your greatest prayer needs. We need direction for our live from God. We need direction for our children. We need direction regarding our possessions. We are fasting and praying as they did in Ezra 8:21, “I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastorgreg@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 19, 2009 (Day Sixteen)

Are you feeling lighter today? I am not just talking about the physical pounds that we have lost. More importantly, are you carrying less baggage in your spirit as a result of the past sixteen days you have spent in Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer? Fasting is a scalpel you place in the hand of the Great Physician. Fasting is your consent to have God perform the necessary surgery that identifies the areas of fleshly domination, and cut away those “growths” that drain our spirituality. Fasting reveals just how sick we are. Jesus said in Luke 5:31, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.” Personally, I am sick of the routines of mediocre Christianity that permeate my everyday life. Fasting enables me to trust God. Trust Him to cut away the desires of my flesh, and their overpowering effect. It is not until you make up your mind to fast, and actually begin, that you can tangibly measure the strongholds of your flesh.

Fasting reveals who you are really working for; what you are really building up; your flesh or your spirit. The works of the flesh are discussed in Galatians 5:19-21. Here are those scriptures from The Message translation, “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.” Ouch! This fast has helped me see just how much power I give to my flesh!

As my flesh strengthens through its uninhibited works, my spirit weakens. When my spirit weakens to the place of losing control to my flesh, my entire relationship with God becomes an internal conflict that forces me to masquerade my fleshly domination by exhibiting religious behavior. When this happens, I change the location of my spiritual battle assignment to my flesh. Ephesians 6:12 gives us the precise location of our battlefield, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We are fighting in the spirit realm. The best way to strengthen your spirit at times is to strip the power of your flesh by fasting. Stay the course, we are almost there.

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastorgreg@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 16, 2009 (Day Thirteen)

Today you are more than half way to your destination of twenty-one days of Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer. Personally, today is the first day I have become weary with this progression. Then I realized this is a normal feeling. Fasting is a process of death. Dying first to our physical will that so easily dominates our daily routines so we can uncover what our spiritual desires really are. There can be no equality when it comes to a proposed coexistence of our flesh and our spirit. One side is always dominate. Romans 8:5 defines the two choices this way, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

This particular season of fasting has caused me to revisit the obvious. You and I are going to experience death. I have spent so much of my time concerned with my fleshly existence. It took these past thirteen days of fasting to bring me face to face with the truth of Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” When my flesh is willfully diminished through fasting, my spirit can govern my life under the spiritual laws of God. Romans 8:7, verifies this for us, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:8, reminds me of the reason I chose to fast, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Your spirit will grow rapidly when the dominate nature of the flesh is placed in a secondary position. Romans 8:9-10 is your promise today, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” We are fasting to break through the barriers of our flesh. We are fasting to receive the blessings inherent in a spirit-led life. Romans 8:11 proposes that blessing to us in this manner, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 15, 2009 (Day Twelve)

Discovery is the process by which we seek to understand the intricate details of a course of action. What are you discovering about yourself on this Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer journey? What do you see when you look at yourself in the eyes of God? Do you have a right or wrong vision of who you are? Let me introduce you to B. P. Burkland, and discover what happened when he saw himself.

B. P. contracted polio when he was a young boy. His parents placed his crippled and deformed body in a box so they could pull him from room to room. One day they left him in front of a mirror and he saw himself. Not the deformed body, or the box, or the limitations. He saw himself running! What he did next is what you must do to break free of the limitations that are barriers to your God life!

HE BEGAN TO ROCK THE BOX UNTIL HE TURNED IT OVER! HE REFUSED THE BARRIERS!

God has given you the ability to see yourself beyond your barriers. You must refuse the “box” and see His vision of your destiny! Job 26:12 said this about God, “He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm.” When you understand what God has already given you nothing can stand in the path of your victory and breakthrough!

Psalm 98:4 commands us to, “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.” It is time for you to break forth! Whatever has boxed you in can’t hold you any longer. John 8:36 is your key, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Rock the box today and never again allow yourself to be bound by the limitation that others put on you.

B.P. Burkland became a very wealthy business man in Seattle, Washington. The Space Needle that indentifies the Seattle skyline was built on land he owned! See yourself through God’s Word and you will breakthrough every barrier in your life today!

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 14, 2009 (Day Eleven)

Today is the day that you have overcome! Overcome is defined as: to get the better of in a struggle or conflict. 1 John 5:5 defines it this way, “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God…” You are now more than midway through our Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer commitment. You are prevailing in the battle for your mind, body, and spirit! Lift up your head, you are an overcomer!

When Moses sent the twelve spies to see if they could prevail in the promised land, Numbers 13:30 gives this report, “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” When everyone else saw themselves as grasshoppers, Joshua and Caleb said, “We are well able to overcome it.” You are well able to overcome the barriers that are present in your life. Breakthrough starts with a decision to focus on God’s promise instead of the seemingly insurmountable odds of logic. Logic will lie to you when confronted with the supernatural.

Everything that Satan throws at you is an accusation of the untrue. What he tells you is always a lie. John 8:44 makes it as plan as possible, “(The Devil) …does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Don’t believe Satan’s lies, you are more than a conqueror through Christ!

Revelation 12:11 gives us a three part formula for defeating Satan, “ And they overcame him by (1) the blood of the Lamb and by (2) the word of their testimony, and they (3) did not love their lives to the death. Jesus gave His life’s blood to create an overcoming breakthrough to the barrier of Satan’s deception. God also gave you a voice to raise and declare your breakthrough by faith. And, you just can’t defeat a person who has nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Ephesians 2:4-7 is your testimony today, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 12, 2009 (Day Nine)

In 1971 I was nine years old. Richard Nixon was President of the United States. We heard that a new stock market called the Nasdaq opened up. The Harlem Globetrotter’s winning streak of 2,495 games ended to the New Jersey Reds. The Colts beat the Cowboys in the Superbowl, and The Carpenters released a song titled, “Rainy Days & Mondays.” If you missed those times you missed the world at half-speed.

In the song, “Rainy Days & Mondays,” there is a verse that states, “What I've got they used to call the blues; Nothin' is really wrong; Feelin' like I don't belong. Walkin' around; Some kind of lonely clown; Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” Today you may be feeling the same sentiments on this second Monday of Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer. I want to encourage you to break the barrier of disconnection by embracing the call of the Spirit in your life.

Your invitation is found in Psalm 42:7, “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me.” God is beckoning you today to be drawn into His heart. You have reached a rhythm in your fasting by now that is releasing a supernatural pull on your heart. Answer the call by connecting to the divine flow of God’s wisdom and fellowship offered to you through His Word and prayer.

You are an invited guest into the deepest part of God according to Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Today your need is to break the barrier of a hurried lifestyle and breakthrough into a deeper intimacy with God than you have ever known. Stop right now and breath in the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 2:7 gives us the original formula for your life’s substance, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Everything you are becoming in God in found in His breath through you! Acts 17:28 makes this perfectly clear, “for in Him we live and move and have our being…”

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 11, 2009 (Day Eight)

There are some places you just don’t go at night! I grew up in East Texas, not far from where the fabled Saratoga Light can be seen in Hardin County. Everybody wanted to take the trip to see the light which was reportedly the lantern of a headless railroad worker who has lost his head in a railroad accident. The problem with the idea of making the trip was that you had to go at night!

Don’t take me wrong. I am not afraid of the night. I just can’t see what’s in the night because it’s dark. I mean, c’mon, even the Bible says, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) I worked for a Pastor years ago whose goal in life was to put me out of his truck at night, in the middle of nowhere, and instruct me to, “follow that tree line until you come to a deer stand.” I still have an unsettled feeling as I write about it now! As a hunter, I found the afternoon suited me better because of the excessive sunlight that was available. Oh, did I tell you I am not that fond of the dark?

One place you have no business being at night is the cemetery! But, that is exactly where we find Mary Magdalene in John 20:1, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOUR HEART WILL NOT LET YOU WAIT ON THE DAY!

There are times when you must have an answer! This Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer is positioning you to release your grip on the natural to find a supernatural revelation that breaks the barriers of your fear. Psalm 139:12 promises you this about God, “Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Light or dark; night or day; shine or shadows; God is the same! Let go of the status quo that has placed the barriers of fear around you. Breakthrough and be free!

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 10, 2009 (Day Seven)

This is the first Jubilee of our 2009 Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer. The seventh day was the Sabbath in biblical reference. A Day of rest, just as God rested from His creative labor in Genesis. This is the first day of rest in our Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer commitment of twenty-one days. Take a deep breath, rest in His love for you.

While you are resting I want you to know that something is resting in you. Proverbs 14:33 declares, “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding…” You have the deposit of God’s wisdom within you. It is your greatest supernatural resource. Proverbs 16:16 displays this clearly, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” You can breakthrough the barrier of poverty today by ending your search for money. If you embrace wisdom, finance will follow it into your life!

Proverbs 4:7 affirms this to you, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” The barrier to finance is held in place by fear. The fear of loss is a debilitating tool the enemy of your soul uses to immobilize you. “What if I lose my house?” “What if I lose my car?” “What if…” you fill in the blank! Break that barrier today by walking in what is resting within you-the wisdom of God!

You have now completed one-third of this breakthrough journey! Stay the course! Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Your diligence will bring you the breakthrough you prayed for!

Send me your testimony of deliverance and breakthrough. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 9, 2009 (Day Six)

The sixth day of creation was one of the most interesting days of creative display in all of Genesis. Genesis 1:31 sums up the sixth day like this, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” The word “good” is used six times prior to this verse to describe God’s creative work. But the sixth day brings the seventh “good” with a “very” attached to it! That attachment is a powerful clue as to the importance of the sixth day.

Is it so easy when you are in the midst of a creative miracle to miss some of the intricate details that take place as it happens. On this sixth day of our Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer you cannot miss the elaborate work of the Holy Spirit in your life! Let me explain what I am sensing in the my spirit today.

Everything was in place in the earth except purpose. Why was it here? What was its purpose? Watch God as He calls out of the earth every living creature. Beast of the field; birds of the air; creeping animals; herbs to yield seed; trees to yield seed; and then the grand finale. Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Everything is in place now! It looks complete. Except God has not revealed His purpose yet! Look closely at , Genesis 1:28 "Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” A divine exchange took place that exposes the Earth’s purpose. God gives Adam and Eve the blessing of His authority and complete dominion over the Earth and everything related to it. In exchange, Adam and Eve commit to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it!

God has placed you on this planet to grow exponentially. You were not only born on this earth with the innate potential for growth, you were commanded to engage in it! 3 John 1:2 shows the character of your design, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” You have to make a conscience decision to stop the divine nature of the spiritual genomes that God has created you with. Multiplication is as much a part of your make up as the ability to breath!

Psalm 139:14 declares that you are, “…fearfully and wonderfully made…” Rise up and take the rightful place of your created purpose in this Earth. This is your sixth day! It is a very good day for you. Fill the Earth! I love the word “subdue” in the passage of Genesis 1:28. It means to shout it out loud!

Today you must stand up out of the uniformity of our culture and shout out who you are! Your breakthrough today is in the revelation of your position. Psalm 8:5 displays your crown, “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” You are God’s choice to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it!

I tear down the barriers of doubt and inferiority that have been built around you! Come on Holy Spirit, crash through the barricades of guilt and condemnation and set God’s people free now! In Jesus Name I speak release over your life right now! Rise up in freedom! Breakthrough!

Send me your testimony of deliverance. Email it to me at pastor@clfn.org. I can’t wait to hear what God has done for you. I am standing with you in faith today for every breakthrough you desire in God!

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

All scriptural references unless noted otherwise are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Breakthrough Fasting & Prayer

January 8, 2009 (Day Five)

On this fifth day of fasting the word in my spirit is CONTINUE! This is the time for you to stay steadfast in what you have started with God. You have connected! You have committed! Now you must continue. This is your day to ask God for wisdom. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. Today you will be established with a new faith found in the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is yours for the asking! James 1:5-6 (NKJ), “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

Continue! Galatians 6:9 (NKJ) is your promise today, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The layers of this life’s care are being peeled off of your spirit so you can get down to the business of continuing! There is a blessing for those who continue!

Genesis 26:1-17, relates the story of Isaac’s blessing when he continued in what God had commanded him to do. Four important components were involved in Isaac’s hundredfold harvest. First the entire land was in famine. Second, God told him not to leave. Third, Isaac was told that if he stayed in the land it would become his and he would greatly multiply. Fourth, he sowed in that land of famine.

Let’s look at those four components again as they relate to us today. First, the condition of your environment has no bearing on the supernatural law of God’s provision. Second, if you will obey god’s directive to you it will turn an unproductive location or event into a fertile place of supernatural increase. Third, when God promises blessing, what you do next will determine your life for years to come. And fourth, Isaac empowered his faith through obedience and sowed without being commanded.

It doesn’t matter what the economic atmosphere is. This is where God has told you to remain. Continuing in obedience will fertilize your famine into harvest.

The result of Isaac’s continuing is revealed in Genesis 26:12 (NKJ), “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.” The secret to Isaac’s blessing is found in Genesis 26:13, “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;”

Let me build your faith to continue with these bible references:

1. Boaz chose Ruth to be his wife because of a special quality he discovered in her. That quality is seen in Ruth 2:7 (NKJ), “And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” Ruth wouldn’t stop. She continued! Her persistence places her in the lineage of Jesus Christ even though she was not a Jew!
2. Hannah had the shame and ridicule of her barrenness removed because she continued! Look at her perseverance in 1 Samuel 1:12(NKJ), “And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.” God gave her Samuel because she continued!
3. The ravaged walls of Jerusalem were restored by Nehemiah out of his refusal to quit! He states it with his own words in Nehemiah 5:16 (NKJ), “Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.” The dogged determination and laser focus of a single purpose forced him to continue!
4. The great outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the result of people who simply continued! Acts 1:14 (NKJ) declares this key element, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” You cannot receive an outpouring from God without continuing in what He commanded you to do!
5. The new church born at Pentecost exploded in number and strength because they would not stop doing what Jesus had commanded. Acts 2:42 (NKJ) displays their tenacity, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” There is blessing of personal growth when you continue!

Stay the course! What you are receiving is worth the sacrifice. You can complete this journey. I believe in you! Blessing is waiting for you. Continue!

Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJ) “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Blessings & Peace,

PG

Connect, Commit, and Continue! Connect to the divine flow of impartation found in the storehouse of Community Life Fellowship. Commit to loyalty in Christian service through the ministry of Community Life Fellowship. Continue in the quest for Bible-based foundations of Kingdom Purpose and personal evangelism that are the fundamental works of Community Life Fellowship.

Psalm 18

Psalm 18:1-19, helps us recognize the strength of God to rescue and restore us, “I love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because He was angry. Smoke rose from His nostrils; consuming fire came from His mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under His feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him—the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from Your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

Now pray this Psalm 18th in a very personal manner, “Greg Manuel loves you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is Pastor Greg Manuel’s rock, Greg Manuel’s fortress and Pastor Greg Manuel’s deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom Greg Manuel takes refuge. He is Pastor Greg Manuel’s shield and the horn of Greg Manuel’s salvation, Pastor Greg Manuel’s stronghold. Greg Manuel calls to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and Pastor Greg Manuel is saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled Greg Manuel; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed Pastor Greg Manuel. The cords of the grave coiled around Greg Manuel; the snares of death confronted Pastor Greg Manuel. In my distress Greg Manuel called to the LORD; Pastor Greg Manuel cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard Greg Manuel’s voice; Pastor Greg Manuel’s cry came before Him, into His ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because He was angry. Smoke rose from His nostrils; consuming fire came from His mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under His feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him—the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from Your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of Greg Manuel; He drew Pastor Greg Manuel out of deep waters. He rescued Greg Manuel from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for Pastor Greg Manuel. They confronted Pastor Greg Manuel in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought Greg Manuel out into a spacious place; He rescued Pastor Greg Manuel because He delighted in me.”

Blessings and peace be upon you today.

Psalm 17

Psalm 17:1-15, is an awesome prayer of personal deliverance, “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from You; may Your eyes see what is right. Though You probe my heart and examine me at night, though You test me, You will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call on You, O God, for You will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover. Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by Your sword. O LORD, by Your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those You cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I—in righteousness I will see Your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness.”

Praying the Word of God as your personal affirmation for life is a powerful way to apply the scriptures in a healing manner. Try Psalm 17, by inserting your name where you see mine: “Hear, O LORD, Greg Manuel’s righteous plea; listen to Pastor Greg Manuel’s cry. Give ear to Greg Manuel’s prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips. May Pastor Greg Manuel’s vindication come from You; may Your eyes see what is right. Though You probe my heart and examine Greg Manuel at night, though You test Pastor Greg Manuel, You will find nothing; I have resolved that Greg Manuel’s mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips Pastor Greg Manuel has kept myself from the ways of the violent. Greg Manuel’s steps have held to Your paths; Pastor Greg Manuel’s feet have not slipped. Greg Manuel calls on You, O God, for You will answer Pastor Greg Manuel; give ear to Greg Manuel and hear Pastor Greg Manuel’s prayer. Show the wonder of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. Keep Greg Manuel as the apple of Your eye; hide Pastor Greg Manuel in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me, from Greg Manuel’s mortal enemies who surround Pastor Greg Manuel. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked Greg Manuel down, they now surround Pastor Greg Manuel, with eyes alert, to throw Greg Manuel to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover. Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue Pastor Greg Manuel from the wicked by Your sword. O LORD, by Your hand save Greg Manuel from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those You cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And Pastor Greg Manuel—in righteousness I will see Your face; when Greg Manuel awakes, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness.”

Blessings and peace be upon you today.

Psalm 16

We have to stop offering sacrifice to the gods of this world! Where we live there are churches everywhere. But for every church, there are hundreds of altars. Places of worship built to offer our lives to the gods of this world. It’s strange that we spend two to four hours each week at our churches, but dozens of hours in the same weekly period at our altars! I am not even going into the many altars we worship at each week-we both know what they are and how much time we spend at them.

God is the only One worthy of our worship. Psalm 16:1-11 makes this so clear, “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.’ As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

We have to make this personal. Put your name in this Psalm where you see mine as you say it aloud, “Keep Greg Manuel safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I said to the LORD, ‘You are Pastor Greg Manuel’s Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’ As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. Greg Manuel will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you have assigned Pastor Greg Manuel my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for Greg Manuel in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Pastor Greg Manuel will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Greg Manuel has set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, Greg Manuel will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon Pastor Greg Manuel to the grave, nor will You let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to Greg Manuel the path of life; You will fill Pastor Greg Manuel with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

Blessings and peace be upon you today.

Psalm 15

The Message Bible records a phrase in Hebrews 12:27 that is very powerful. The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. This was the writer’s way of conveying to the Hebrews that a shake-proof-life could be lived if it was built on Jesus Christ; not the man made trinkets of religion that so quickly surround him.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 commands us, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” The obvious reason we are commanded to “be not shaken” is because a spiritual turbulence is predicted through prophecy for these end-times we live in.

My Dad used to sing a song around the house when we were growing up that was a twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song written in 1954 by Jesse Stone. He sang the Elvis version to us, “Shake, Rattle and Roll”. Not to ruin a fun song for you or anything but, “shake, rattle and roll” is a good way to describe the enemy’s plan to destroy your life. Satan wants to shake your faith with tragedy, rattle your dreams with hopelessness, and roll you to the side of life’s highway where purpose simply passes you by!

Psalm 15:1-5, provides the formula for living a shake-proof life, “LORD, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.”

Make it real with me by inserting your name where you see mine, “Lord, Pastor Greg Manuel may dwell in Your sanctuary. Greg Manuel may live in Your holy hill. Help Pastor Greg Manuel Lord, to keep my walk blameless. Lord, help Greg Manuel to do what is righteous. God keep Pastor Greg Manuel from having slander in his tongue. Lord help Greg Manuel do his neighbor no wrong or cast slur on his fellowman. Oh God, use Pastor Greg Manuel to lend without interest and not be moved by money. In Your word Greg Manuel will trust and walk in these precepts. Pastor Greg Manuel will never be shaken.”

Blessings and peace be upon you today!

Psalm 14

There are two distinctly different systems of life at work in the earth today; only two. All of our thoughts, opinions, likes or dislikes, attitudes, beliefs, associations, and relationships come from the acknowledgements we embrace from God or Satan. Even the fact that you may have read the preceding sentence with doubt of God or Satan’s existence is proof that it is so!

If you take one day in your life and force every thought or action to align its origin with God or Satan, what would the majority of your acknowledgements be? As Christians we wrap up all of our thoughts and actions up into a nice little package held together with this statement, “I believe in God!” I do not want to unwrap the illusion of your belief system, or tarnish the halo of your superior Christianity, but I though you should know; the Bible states that even the demons believe in God and it makes them tremble. (James 2:19)

What you and I truly believe is being applied to our lives throughout the daily existence we enjoy through acknowledgements. The dictionary defines acknowledge as the act of showing or expressing recognition or the realization of something. What we believe in we acknowledge through our choices and actions. There is a difference between God’s system of faith, and Satan’s system of fear. You and I acknowledge it through everything we do.

Psalm 14:1-7, identifies the difference between those who acknowledge God, and those who do not. Look at the words of David here, “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Will evildoers never learn—those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD ? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!”

Make this affirmation with me by inserting your name where you see mine: Greg Manuel is no fool! Pastor Greg Manuel knows who God is and refuses the corrupt and vile as his company of counsel. Greg Manuel seeks God and His understanding. Pastor Greg Manuel will do good and live free from the depression of dread. Greg Manuel is made righteous by the Blood of Christ and is an invited guest into the presence of God to see the mysteries of God and receive His revelation. Pastor Greg Manuel takes refuge in the Lord. Salvation is coming to Greg Manuel!

Blessings and peace be upon you today.

Psalm 13

One of the life’s painful processes is that of being misunderstood. The very word, “misunderstood” implies that somehow understanding was missed. Being misunderstood has little to do with failed instructions or communication failure. Misunderstanding is commonly the product of unspoken expectations and perceived purpose.

Have you been misunderstood lately? Have you felt that there was a misunderstanding between you and God? I know it seems silly to even think that one could have a misunderstanding with God. But look at that question in the context of unspoken expectations and perceived purpose. Isn’t this where we “misunderstand” God? The life processes we go through in our journey on this earth can be filled with spiritual misunderstandings if we expect God to be something other than His word declares, or we believe our purpose to be different from God’s will.

Maybe that’s how we develop our enemies. Maybe we identify those who don’t understand our misunderstandings, as enemies. It is out of the life processes we endure that our friends and enemies are labeled. Is it ever really fair to eternally label someone while they are in a temporary transition?

David reveals his pain of misunderstanding God in the 13th Psalm. The mental anguish of people deliberately attempting to inflict pain on our lives can be debilitating; even more so when you and I perceive personal attacks as the willful silence of God to withhold vindication from us.
Psalm 13:1-6 reflects the pain of not understanding the processes of David’s life. Listen to this heart cry, “How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”

Let’s make this Psalm personal. Insert your name where you see mine and pray this aloud, How long, O LORD ? Will you forget Pastor Greg Manuel forever? How long will you hide your face from Greg Manuel? How long must Pastor Greg Manuel wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over Greg Manuel? Look on Pastor Greg Manuel and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or Greg Manuel will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when Greg Manuel falls. But Pastor Greg Manuel trusts in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Greg Manuel will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

Blessings and peace be upon you today.

Psalm 12

When society exalts what is vile above what is holy, the result is always the persecution of faith. For those who embrace faith, persecution is the loneliest path they can walk. The reason for the devastating loneliness of persecution is found in the irony that there seems to be no deliverance, it must be endured. He that endures to the end shall be saved. We know this right? Then what do we do with the empty despair that fills the space between the beginning and the end of personal persecution? The remedy may be found in the 12th Psalm.

Psalm 12:1-8, prescribes the remedy, “Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, ‘We will triumph with our tongues; we our own lips- who is our master?’ ‘Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,’ says the LORD. ‘ I will protect them from those who malign them.’ And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O LORD, You will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.”

I’m not sure we can make this Psalm any more personal than it is, but I like to make this affirmation, “God is God, Greg Manuel is a man! When man speaks evil, God’s words are the ultimate truth for Greg Manuel. Let the wicked strut, God will speak the final word of truth over Greg Manuel.”

Blessings & peace be upon you today!

Psalm 10

There are moments when you and I doubt that God really cares. Yes, I said it! Everyone has moments of doubt concerning God. It is human nature. In societies of faith we are reluctant to openly admit this for fear of voiding God’s greatness through our inability. Pretty silly when you read it isn’t it? If God is only real when my faith is strong He is more fantasy than fact. God is God, whether or not you and I believe it!

So often we are compelled through our human nature to measure God’s existence through the filter of comparison. If God does something for someone else that He doesn’t do for me is He still real? David dealt with this question when he inquired to God regarding the wicked.

Psalm 10:1-18, helps us confront with our doubt by asking, “Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? In His arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and Your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’ His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees.’ Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’? But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the Helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from His land. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

If you make this Psalm personal, you will be forced to deal with the same imbedded doubt that I sometimes deal with. It’s worth every effort if you want to try. Insert your name where you see mine, “Why, O LORD, do You stand far off from Greg Manuel? Why do You hide Yourself in times of Greg Manuel’s trouble? In His arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and Your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’ His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees.’ Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’? But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the Helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from His land. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Blessings and peace be upon you today!

Psalm 9

Some days you just have to give up the daily task of trying to understand the madness around you and turn your eyes to God and declare what you know about Him.

Psalm 9:1-20 makes this declaration, “I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before You. For You have upheld my right and my cause; You have sat on Your throne, judging righteously. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name for ever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. The LORD reigns forever; He has established His throne for jugement. He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what He has done. For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare Your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in Your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The LORD is known by His justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Selah. The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in Your presence. Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah.”

Make this Psalm personal today, “Greg Manuel will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; Greg Manuel will tell of all Your wonders. Greg Manuel will be glad and rejoice in You; Greg Manuel will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Greg Manuel’s enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before You. For You have upheld Greg Manuel’s right and Greg Manuel’s cause; You have sat on Your throne, judging righteously. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name for ever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. The LORD reigns forever; He has established His throne for jugement. He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what He has done. For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare Your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in Your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The LORD is known by His justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Selah. The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in Your presence. Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah.”

Blessings and peace be upon you!

Psalm 8

Consideration is a universal language that can be understood by anyone, anywhere! All human beings fight for consideration. The battle to be considered ranges from a playground skirmish at preschool, to the modern marvels of strategic warfare guided by technology beyond belief. In a marriage, control is instituted to relinquish consideration. Between siblings, territories are declared in hopes of supporting consideration. Every human being alive wants to be considered.

Psalm 8:1-9, is a fresh breath of perspective for all of us in our daily struggles for consideration, “O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

I love making these words personal, “O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When Greg Manuel considers Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is Greg Manuel that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made Greg Manuel a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made Greg Manuel ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under Greg Manuel’s feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Blessings and peace be upon you!