You may remember in the book of Genesis that Joseph’s envious brothers wanted to kill him, but instead sold him to Egypt-bound Midianite traders for a few bucks.  They had taken Joseph’s special-colored coat, dipped it in goat’s blood then sent it home to their father Jacob for his inspection.

When Jacob saw the bloody coat, he knew it belonged to his son, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him.”  He mourned him for many days and said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.”

What was the problem?  Well, to begin with, he was weeping and mourning over a LIE!  Joseph was not dead.  Jacob’s life wasn’t over.  It just appeared that way.  Dad had simply jumped to the wrong conclusion and assumed the worst based on the evidence provided.  His rush to judgment paralyzed his faith and crippled his future for many years to come.   Jacob acted as if God’s word of promise to him (Gen. 35:10-12) had no effect on his life.

This same attitude is rampant in America today!  Have you put it together?  People are fixated on the economy, the price of gas, turmoil in the middle east, Afghanistan, their bills, and on and on; the list of bloody coats is long.  Yet JESUS said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24.

Of course, the evidence of the day is compelling.  It always is.  But we will never have the victory if we stay focused on the problem.  Our focus must be on the Word, more sure than Jacob’s.  The Word from JESUS Himself, bought by His blood (better covenant) and based on better promises (Heb. 8:6).

You may have some bloody coats in your life right now and they are screaming, “Lack, Pain, Addiction. Loss, Grief, Sorrow, etc…”  Please hear me, “Things Are Not As They Appear.”  Do not be hasty in your speech or your actions. Speak The Word ONLY, no matter how compelling the natural circumstances seem to be.   You have a Covenant of Peace with God and He is bound to it and will never come out of it!

We must train ourselves to know that neither you, me, nor anybody else, not even the situation itself knows all there is to know about it.  Only God sees and understands completely.  And you owe it to yourself and to your future to keep quiet for a while and give God some time to help you understand it from His perspective.  God is not nervous nor anxious.  As you worship Him, He will reveal your next step.

Yes, Jacob ended up all right, and of course so did Joseph and his entire family.  But I believe he could have missed some major pain in his life had he given God the time to process the bloody coat.  I pray for you and for me, that we learn this lesson well and refuse to cave in to the mindset of our current culture.         

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:18

It’s time to shine the Light!

I Call You A Champion,

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

At last we see the legit case for what Thomas Jefferson was addressing when he wrote his now famous letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.  Here is the direct quote:

“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.” [Emphasis Mine].

Mr. Jefferson simply quoted the first amendment then emphasized it’s meaning that it is the People whom the first amendment protects from  government established religion, thus the wall of separation was to keep the state out of the church, not the other way around!  But Mr. Jefferson did not anticipate the Warren supreme court.  A supreme court which would re-interpret the first amendment to mean that it was the government who should be protected from the people.  A people who if given the chance, would force a Theocracy upon our land.

And of course that is exactly why the First Comers left England for Holland then Plymouth Rock in the early 17th century.  Actually, no.  The Pilgrims as you remember fled Britain because of the oppressive government founded Church of England (COE) which forbade them to worship God freely and independently of the “State Church (COE)” doctrines.  These Christians wanted to worship God unreservedly, from their hearts, not through government mandated religious ritual.  The penalties for non-conformity were severe!

The first amendment was drafted to ensure that the citizens of our new nation would never again have to fear the state dictating to the people who and how to worship; much less punish them for expressing their religious beliefs.  And what a blessing this has been to our nation.  Since 1787 we’ve been just fine.  But not so fast.

As it turns out, there is a provision in the present administration’s healthcare law that calls for employers to pay for contraceptives and other birth control medications including the morning after pill for any women whom they employ.  And although the law excludes churches and houses of worship it does not exclude Catholic, Christian, Jewish or  other religious schools and universities.  And of course it does not exclude any business whose owner(s) may have a very personal and Biblical objection to providing for what in some cases they would considered an abortion.

THIS is where the separation of church and state should be shouted from the housetops.  This is what Mr. Jefferson was writing should never happen in America!  The first amendment was written to protect us from this type of government intrusion; forcing citizens to violate their own conscience and religious beliefs.  And why?  To accommodate the ideology of those in power.

To make matters worse, when the Catholic church issued a strong letter of protest against the new law, the government censored the letter! The government prohibited Army Chaplains from reading to their parishioners a certain line which they felt might be seditious.  Does this sound like America to you?

In this year’s pre-Super Bowl interview our President said, “Our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like sometimes.” To take matters up the ladder any more than this really leaves only one place to go.  As for me, I am fine with our founding father’s wisdom and just in case, for the future; I am also fine with how God made man.

I thank God for our founding fathers who did have the foresight to see that there may come a day when some of our future leaders would pine for America to return to Europe (they have kings), and for that reason, make certain our form of government would never allow it.  However, it certainly seems that our present administration is bound to take us as close as we can get.

There is an urgent need for the prayers of the righteous to be lifted up in America, for our nation and our leaders like no other time in our generation.

I Call You A Champion!

PRG

In This New Year -

The most thoughtful goals, intelligent plans and noble purposes of men can never replace the principle in this message -

Who’s On First?  Walking In God’s Abundance Every Day Of 2012!

When God talks, His words manifest what He says.  Whether He says, “Let there be light,” or “Take up you bed and walk,” to the cripple or “Arise,” to a young, dead teenage girl, His Words contain the power to bring themselves to pass.  So when He calls you blessed, you are. When He said to Isaac “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham,” that was a great day.  Why?  Because just like Isaac, we are the seed of Abraham, which means God’s Word to Isaac that day was spoken to us as if we had been right there with him!

Frankly, the Bible says that JESUS set us free from the curse so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us.  And of course that blessing goes like this:

“…And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God’s Word marked Abraham for the rest of His life.  Today, you and I are marked by that same  Word as well as the blood of JESUS.  God looked at you and called those things which were not as though they were.  And neither you nor I can change that.  We are exactly who God says we are!  The only power we have is the power of choice; to accept it or deny it. I know what I’ve done.  How about you?  PRG

God is a master builder and he has built you.  He has already connected all the dots in your life and is just waiting for you to pursue Him to find where to start. Forever, His Word,  all of his plans are settled in the heavens.

Your life has a beginning, middle and end.  It is up to us to unwrap the package God has given us and discover the daily joys He has purposed for us.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard nor has entered into the heart of man all the THINGS which God has prepared for those who love Him.  Those who love Him are those who pursue Him and daily discover His love, mercy, strength and supernatural provision in every area of life.

No matter what you do, make certain He is doing it through you.  Don’t be caught alone doing your own thing outside of God’s master plan.  It is futile and exhausting.  Go to Him for what He has already supplied today and enjoy the feeling that is foreign to so many, the feeling, of peace.

Be blessed today.  PRG

What a journey!  After nine years in the desert we are once again breathing the refreshing salt air beneath the sunny blue skies of our beloved south Florida.  I don’t think I will ever take “green” or “water” for granted again as long as I live!  We have returned to a familiar place, but to a changed place.  The first decade of the 21st century has transformed south Florida into yet more of a cosmopolitan hub.  I can hardly wait to dive into this vibrant eclectic mix of people, culture, music, art, food, and of course spirituality.

If there has ever been a prophetic moment to demonstrate the good news of JESUS Christ to the nations, this is the time and south Florida is the place!  Joanna and I along with our children and a few “love warriors” look forward to discovering our part in the rich mosaic of this truly blessed community…a community of nations amidst a sea of dreams.

Sunday, May 29th at 10:30AM (EST) we will be streaming our first Transformation LIVE service on DreamChurchTV.  Join us for this powerful time in the presence of the Lord and invite your friends network to the party.  We look forward to having you with us.  Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day Weekend.

You’re a Champion…

Pastor Ralph

Each day we awaken to a visible world which operates flawlessly by invisible forces.  The tides, air pressure, winds, temperature, precipitation all affect global harvests which affect global economies which affect every person on earth.  But as usual it is God who makes the first move.  He spoke the worlds into existence by the breath of His mouth.  He set everything we see in motion and then He gave us the stewardship over it.

Since we are created in the image of God He wants us to follow His example of creation every day of our lives.  He wants us to create.  How?  With our words.  And not just any words, but with inspired words.  Words that paint the world you want, not the world you have.  Words which pre-play successes, not re-play failures.  Your words create your world.  They are seeds which come back to you in the form of blessings or curses.

As the architect of your life you develop your personal metropolis.  What does your “life-city” look like?  Is it filled with huge bridges, tall doors and super highways?  Are there beautiful gardens, prosperous neighborhoods, lush parks and elegant buildings?  Perhaps your city is different.  Some people have a city which looks more like a ghetto overrun with weeds, pot holes and graffiti-sprayed walls.  Other cities lay in rubble like some of the mid-east desert cities we see on the news.  And still others may have a Gotham City; dark, mysterious and threatening.

Your words and subsequent decisions have created the city you live in today.  But regardless of the present condition of your city, you remain the creator, the Mayor if you will.   Now please listen carefully.  If your city is in trouble, it is not too late to begin a new city-wide re-development and infrastructure program!  You can change anything and everything.  How did NYC go from being one of the most dangerous cities in the world to the #1 SAFEST big city in the US?  The Mayor, (Giuliani at the time) made a decision.  He decided that it was time to clean up the city.  And he did.  You can too.  Use your words.

Today your words are attracting some people and repelling others.  Your words are attracting opportunities or keeping them afar off.  Begin building the kind of city you want to live in every day.  It’s your life and your choice.  PRG

Here’s a question.  “Do you see JESUS?” If you do, your life is about to change!  Stay with me.  Colossians 1:15 says that He, JESUS is the image of the invisible God; that He is the visible representation of the invisible Father.  Think about that, the invisible became visible.

So many people ask the question, “Are we the only life form in the entire universe?”  “Is there life anywhere out there?”  The answer is, “Yes, most definitely!” But it is not what some may think.  The out there I am talking about is the invisible spirit-world.  And that world is much more active and dynamic than our 3D world on earth.  JESUS is proof.  He came from the spirit realm, not in some inter-galactic cruiser, but in the womb of a woman.

And to be clear, in no way am I implying that JESUS is some kind of Star Wars type creature from another galaxy.  But I assure you, He is not from earth.  Nor was He conceived by the Seed of a man (See Gen. 3:15).  He is the living Son of God, sent from a very real place called heaven.

The eternal Son of God left His throne in heaven to come to earth as Adam II.  It was the only way God could satisfy the debt which Adam I incurred for all the rest of us.  JESUS came to make us ALL RIGHT after we had become all wrong!

But JESUS came not just as our Savior and holy substitute for our sin-sick lives; He also came to show all people that the invisible can become visible!  So in Hebrews 12:2 we read, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Again, look at Him, (the tangible manifestation of the invisible God), who is also the Captain and our greatest example of faith.

There He is.  The living God, and you can touch Him! In other words, if you can believe who He is, you can experience anything you saw Him do, beginning with salvation.

Look at Christ’s life in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  He is the visible expression of the heart of our heavenly Father.  JESUS did only what the Father instructed Him to do.  And we saw the results; salvation, healing and deliverance.  Those acts have never stopped happening for those who see Him!  There is no reason not to believe that they will happen for you?

Therefore, JESUS told us in Mk. 9:23 “…all things are possible to him who believes.” And Romans 8:32 sums it all up with one question.  And careful now, your answer to this question is the key to the abundant life which you were created to possess, and it is this, “…will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”

If your response is, “Yes!” then let it be unto you according to His Word.  For the JESUS you see and believe determines not only your eternal dwelling place, but the quality of your life on earth, right here, right now.  See Him and rejoice!

PRG

Look at what JESUS did in Mk. 11:14 – He cursed the fig tree and his disciples heard Him.  In the next verse it says they came to Jerusalem.  What happened?  After JESUS spoke to that tree, He just walked away knowing that His Word had accomplished its mission.  He walked over that faith line and moved on.  He had not one more thought about it.  How is the tree going to die?  Will it just dry up?   Will somebody pluck it out?  Who cares?  The Word was spoken in faith.  It is Done!  Let’s get going…

Had Peter not noticed the withered tree the following day, JESUS would have walked right by it without any mention whatsoever.

You see that tree was not finished when it withered, it was finished the moment JESUS turned to walk away.  At His first step.

Proclaiming God’s Word of faith through our mouths, then moving on without a care as to how the manifestation occurs is the most fun we get as believers on earth!  It works, because the LORD Himself is standing right next to us to back up what we speak.  Remember, we hear our own voice speak the Word, but that is not what the [fig tree] hears.  Your Mountain, hears the voice of JESUS.  And He cannot be denied.

So be certain you are in agreement with God, speak the Word, and move on.  It Is Done!

You’re a Champion.   PRG

I call Psalm 119 the greatest chapter in the Bible because each verse makes a reference to God’s Word, His Ordinances, His Statutes and Precepts.

It’s God’s Word on God’s Word!

Psalm 119 is for Quitters!

For people who have at last quit worrying, quit complaining, quit stressing, quit straining and quit doing things in their own abilities and understanding.

Psalm 119 is for people who are ready to allow God’s Word to settle the struggle!

Psalm 119 is for people who are ready to confide in what God said.   And that’s it!  What God said…

And that’s right – most people have to come to a place where ONLY what God said will do, which is why verse 71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn your statutes.” Not that I may fear and complain…

You see, when we have confidence in His Word, nothing on earth can shake us, at least not for very long.   Verse 122 says that God will be surety for us, meaning His Word is our pledge.  So if your “track record” is not so great right now, that’s fine, your co-signer has perfect credit, the oppressor is stopped and you will be all right!

But perhaps one of the most powerful truths we can dig out of Psalm 119 is in verse 133,  Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

God’s Word will place us on the right path and point us in the right direction every time!  And here’s why.  No Pollution!  Iniquity has NO Dominion over you.  The Word keeps your eyes focused on the source of life, blessing and power.

There is no guessing when you are led by the Word of the Lord.  Wisdom, Favor, Courage and Increase are all in your prosperous future.

Psalm 119 – Declare it out loud.  Meditate it.  Work it.  Your present and your future will be glad you did.

The Number One God-pleaser in this life is obeying the Word of the Lord.  God is the Master of giving “uncommon instructions” usually because we have an uncommon need.  Naaman was told to wash in the Jordan river seven times…his leprosy was healed.  JESUS told Peter to look into the mouth of a fish…the “IRS” got paid.  “Strike the rock, Moses”…the water gushed out.

The day we learn to recognize the voice of God and move instantly, without judgment, but with faith; that’s the day our season changes.

You’ve been needing a Word, a door, a change.  I know it.  Open your heart to this twenty-minute teaching today, then allow the Holy Spirit to reveal your next move.

Be Blessed!

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

If God remembers the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation, how much more will He remember the blessing!

Adam, the moral, legal and spiritual representative of mankind chose to disobey God, and we, being in his loins, disobeyed with him!  Adam, our natural daddy become our “source” of condemnation and death and placed us under a commanded curse!  But wait.  God’s mercy toward us sent JESUS, the second Adam, to become the curse, thereby freeing us eternally from sin’s bondage.  We got a source change!  JESUS is now our SOURCE of blessing, healing and abundance!  Shout, “I’m back!”

Today, right now, the limits are off, and you my precious friend are free to be what God made you.  You can become the victorious child of God that this generation is longing to see.  Everything you need is on the earth, at this moment just waiting for your word and your action.

Connect, connect, connect with something greater than what you have on your plate.  Be a part of a living, God-inspired dream that will put a demand on the blessing, the gift and the “making” which is within you.  Do not settle for second place.  Be the gold medal you, the Lord created you to be.  Thank you for your prayer, your encouragement and your seeds of love.

Shalom!

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

There is no secret to getting all of your prayers answered.  JESUS told Philip that He would answer any prayer he prayed.  So what’s the problem here?  Why do so many people struggle through prayer?  Thrilling prayer life?  More like, boring prayer life.

Let’s fix this.  This lastest teaching will expose you to the heart of God toward your life and future.  You will understand the power of your words and their impact on the circumstances around you.  Most importantly, you will learn the secret which keeps the switch to answered prayer in the ON position.  Stop struggling with things that God has already solved for you.

satan does all he can to keep believers from having an effective prayer life.  that alone should inspire us to pray.  The old boy is obviously very afraid of  any Christian who can pray with results.

Listen to this word a few times and expect your prayer life to do a complete 180!

Get your thing…You’re A Champion,

Pastor Ralph Gerard

Gideon is working in the wine press and the Angel of the Lord interrupts him.  He greets the young man with that venerable salutation which preachers have used to wax bold for centuries, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Judges 6:12  Here’s the interesting part, Gideon comes right back, perhaps not as eloquent, but he certainly makes his point.  I’ll paraphrase: “If God is with us why are our enemies breathing down our necks?”  “And if the Lord delivered us from Egypt before, why isn’t He doing it again…now?”

Can you hear the Angel of the Lord?  “Go ahead there, G.”  “Tell us what you really think, and don’t hold anything back.”  Actually, His response left Gideon stunned.  Again, here’s my version:  “Use that passion and save your nation…GO!  I’m with you!”

Think about it.  You and I have had this same conversation with God more than once.  How many times has God “interrupted” our lives, we complain to Him, then God says, “That’s it.”  “Use that passion and go get the job done…I’m with you!”  He uses a situation to awaken our assignment, then tells us to tackle it because He is with us.  And He is.  And if we obeyed we would discover just how much “with us” He really is.

But is that what we do?  Of course not.  We do exactly what Gideon did.  We try to inform God just how small, insignificant and unqualified we are for the job.  And why do we do this?  Because we see ourselves from our own perspective rather than His.  We allow the “idols” of our past limitations and failures to define our future.  No wonder the first thing the Angel told Gideon to do was to tear down the altars of Baal.  We must also.

Here is what we need to know.  “If God be for us…who can be against us?”  It’s never about who we think we are, but about who God says we are!  There is a Champion in you just like there was in Gideon.  Trust God and dare to step out on His Word.  If you are not uncomfortable at first, you missed something.  Because it’s in that place of awkward balance and clumsy inelegance that we must really depend on Him.  And that of course is where He wants us.  God knows that  our best self appears at the point of His grace manifested in our lives.  And that is where others will see it, and greatness is born.  It is time to awaken the Gideon in you.

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

Carly Simon still sounds great belting out this classic hit.  And she’s singing a Biblical truth.   Nobody, does it better.  Get on this ride with me.  Who doesn’t enjoy watching a real top-notch Elvis impersonator?  I know I do.  But here’s a comment you’ve never heard leaving the impersonator’s show.  “Hey, I saw Elvis when he was alive.  But this guy was better!” Right?   C’mon.  There was only one Elvis, and Elvis was the best Elvis there was!  But wait.  There is only one you.  And nobody does you, better than you.  You are the Elvis of your world! Let’s make two quality decisions right now, shall we?

Read the rest of this entry

We are so excited about a brand new feature here at DCTV.  It’s called Intimate Confessions.  This is a special place where you and I can meet the Lord and worship Him with His Word.  I take selected portions of scripture and personalize them as a prayer, a heart cry, an intimate confession.

This is a place of vulnerability, a broken place; a place which calls you.  But it is in this place that we connect.  And isn’t the inspiration of this connection all we really need?  For in that union holy things take place.  Things so boundless, so momentous, that mere words cannot explain.   It’s a holy place of intimacy between the Lord and His greatest creation, you.

Please let me know how Intimate Confessions is working for you and if you have any suggestions.  Plus, I welcome any scriptures you would like me to include in this exciting new element of Dream Church TV.

Rooted and Grounded in His Love,

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

This is not an anti-gay diatribe by another “hate the sin, love the sinner” style preacher.  I want to begin by saying that I truly understand that many homosexuals have heard or sensed something very real within them which they sincerely believe was a signal that they were gay.

Yet it did happen again,  just a few weeks ago.  A young college student, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge in New York.  What a heartbreak.  Another bright kid, nothing but opportunities and fortune ahead of him, here no longer.   Life, just too complicated at eighteen.  And it’s not just Tyler.  But many other gay teens are choosing suicide, nationwide.  Did this young man jump off that bridge because his roommates dishonored him?  No.  He did it because he was confused, confounded, humiliated.  Why?  Let me explain it this way.

I have never met a member of any ethnic or “religious” group who had to warm up to who they really are.  In my case, I am an unapologetic Christian American.  I would never limit wearing JESUS to just my shirt sleeve.  I wear Him all over, especially on my attitude and my outlook on life.  I never had to get used to being a Christian.  And I have never had issue with anyone who does not understand or appreciate my devotion to Christ.  Nor am I offended when people scoff at my particular brand of Christianity   or deride my Savior.  I am just as confident and secure in who I am and who my God is as I am in being an American living in the USA.  I am happy, even eager to tell anyone that I am a flag-waving, Christian patriot, anywhere in the world.  And so would most reading this blog.  Why?  It’s like breathing.  It’s natural.  There is no shame in being who you know you are.

Let’s get to truth.  If an offense could be taken today, it will be with this statement, not with me.  It’s not my statement, nor my word.  I simply believe it.  Any offense would have to be with God, whose Word I take from the New Testament book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 18 through 32. (New King James Version) Here is an excerpt:

“…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error…”

Yes, there are young people who feel something, hear something or have a desire they have never had.  No objection.  But it is a false reading.  A deceptive bluff.  You don’t have to believe it or submit to it! And why is this such a leap?  Remember the first drag on a cigarette?  We thought we would die.  Every nicotine addict I know wishes they had gotten a clue on that first try.  Why can’t we apply this to the kid who “feels” he’s gay? Imagine if people gave in to every rogue thought or act they “felt” like doing.  It would be chaos.  Homosexuality is a choice.  And for some, it is a very tough one because of the high level of deception involved.

Those who hold to this belief are not anti-gay or against any lifestyle choice.  We must resist the notion that standing on Truth is being “intolerant.”  Would we call someone intolerant because they resisted a person who prefers straddling the lines on the freeway?  “I just don’t feel right when I drive in between the lines…I need to straddle them” A moral society must have at it’s bedrock, undeniable truth in order for it’s citizen’s to prosper.  This has always been America’s secret.

We must question anything that our minds and bodies tell us they “feel” if it goes against truth.  And that is really the crux.  Truth.  The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is neither God-designed nor God-inspired.  And to say that God sanctions and looks with favor upon homosexuality is nonsense.  It is unnatural.  It is a mixture of what God made as natural and then something else joining in (The deception).   That fatal flaw will forever produce mixture.  Thus the shame, the uncertainty, the acting out along with the increasingly loud, loud voice to defend it.  But truth settles every dispute.  “We don’t get to choose what truth is, nor can we change it. We just get to accept it or deny it. And, everybody finds out in the end what the TRUTH really is.”  If your truth gets you where you want to go, congratulations, you made a wise choice.

Yes, it has taken far too long for our nation to recognize that we indeed had a birth defect called slavery.  We are doing much better.  But those attempting to place homosexuality in that same status are misguided.  The evil within legit racism, and I must say legit because our present culture will label you a racist if you accidentally pull out in front of the wrong person in traffic!  The evil within legit racism is marginalizing and devaluing another human life on the basis of something they have no control over, namely, the color of their skin, or their ethnic genealogy.  Never has there breathed a human being with an option in either.  Which is why I contend that the greatest form of racism is abortion.  When we deny life, not the right to vote, not a better seat or a superior job, or even human dignity, but when we deny life itself to a person, who through no fault or choice of their own came into existence in the identical manner as the rest of us; can this be a depiction of anything other than our worst selves?

America has begun to line up with the Bible when it says,  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.  Simple, right?  We are ALL equal in God’s eyes in every way.  And that is how it works.  When we get into agreement with Him., life is more enjoyable and productive for everyone.  However, God will not reverse Himself because we are screaming for Him to give us what we want.  He loves us too much to do that.  He is our Father, after all.  Any dad who gives in to the lesser wisdom of his children will certainly regret it.  Of course, God has no regrets.  And neither will we if we stay submitted to His Word.

God is a God of order.  He makes everything right and appropriate.  He loves it when everything fits.

God has filled the earth with abundant resources.  For instance, crude oil from beneath the earth.  Where do we drill for it?  We drill in the exact place where He put it.  And where do we place those mammoth wind turbines?  We put them wherever He makes the wind blow. Fisherman fish certain waters at certain times of the year because they know that the precise fish, crab, shrimp or other sea life which they desire will be there.  These are just examples of how some people cooperate with God.

Whether you acknowledge God, go to church or not, your spiritual “handle,” is irrelevant.  From Atheist to Zen and everything in between, everybody acknowledges the earth’s  cycles, seasons as well as the meteorological and geological patterns that are all around us.  We respect these patterns and we use them to our benefit.  We have also learned that disrespecting “mother nature” can lead to disastrous results.

Think about it.  Is not science simply the discovery of the vast power which surrounds us on earth?  Every advancement in human history, from the wheel to the microchip has come from a discovery.   It is man harnessing the potential within a God-made substance.  Once a scientist discovers a “constant” in nature or in a compound they become 99.99%  certain that the same  results will occur every time the same conditions are present.  It is a constant. They are convinced.  And as a result of relying on these certainties, our world has become a much more glorious place to live.

If we can rely so heavily on the unchanging laws of nature and see the consistent benefits of doing so, we must not hesitate to take the same stance with God’s Word!  For God’s Word is the only constant on earth that is 100% reliable, 100% of the time, to 100% of those who believe it.  For it was His Word which created the world when He spoke by the breath of  His mouth (Psalm 33:6).  Once a person makes God’s Word their own, they will never lack any good thing in this life or the next!

When you and I begin to cooperate with God’s Word, we will  become more certain about God’s love and His promises toward us than those who rely on the Farmer’s Almanac.  We will experience blessing and multiplication upon all we put our hands to.  If we don’t doubt the seasons, how can we doubt the very Word that created them?  Let me challenge you to believe that the God who created the earth also created you to experience the abundant life JESUS promised.  Put God’s Word in your heart, then on your tongue.   Now release that Word with faith and watch what God does.  What YOU SAY will come to pass.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

Our culture is possessed with The Look! Today, it’s not the color of your skin (which is a good thing), but wait, that skin better be tight.

Tight skin is cool, but I have a question.  “What else do you have?”  You see, a McLaren F1 is a million dollar supercar.  Sweet!  And it shimmers on a showroom floor like few cars do.  But if it came with a Ford Fiesta engine, it becomes something else altogether.  It becomes…disappointing.  Some would say, ” A Cheater.”  A Deception!  For though it had all the appearances of a race car, it was not even close.

America is being cheated today because too many parents are buying into a glossy and shallow society.  It’s time to pay the price of building our children from within…by example.

Somebody is going to get their attention and become their number one influence.  Will it be you ?

We have a historic opportunity today.  An opportunity to lead from the heart.  And our audience is all ears.  Our future leaders should not be influenced as much by the culture as they are by mom and dad.  How they act on the soccer field should reflect what they have learned around the dining room table, not on Jersey Shore.   This commitment to our children should cause us to be the everyday mentors our young people are crying out for. 

Let’s develop a thought life rooted in the Word of God along with the principles of love, faith and the riches of  His grace.  As parents, when we commit to building our hidden parts, our children will see the results outwardly.  It won’t be long before they too will begin to hunger, not just for a fancy paint job, but for that powerful engine of character and honor which will propel them into the victory zone of life all of their days on earth!

JESUS said, “…For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure [deposit] of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure [deposit] brings forth evil things.” What JESUS was saying is that the substance of our inner reality [heart] will over the course of time begin to spill over and come out of our mouths as words.  Those words spoken today create our future tomorrow; so that whatever we allow our inner reality to become will eventually grow to be our destiny.  Think about that.  You and I determine the quality of our life each time we decide what we allow to be deposited into our hearts.

Is your life upside down right now? Stop thinking about it. That’s right, stop!  One may respond, “But this mess I’m in is all I can think about…”  Not true.  It’s just that you have been depositing so much of [your mess] in your heart, [through your thoughts and words] that you are now being flooded with the very thing which you hate.  Why are we surprised when the thing we think about all day comes to our door?  What we dislike intensely will come upon us!  It’s a spiritual law.  When a human being hates, we make a vivid picture in the subconscious mind which then develops into our present reality.

Why does money not show up at our door daily?  Because we never think about money arriving, we see it leaving.  Rather than “Money Cometh,”  most people’s reality is that, “Money Goeth!”  We think about bills arriving.  So of course, we are greeted with more bills so that we can see our money leave.  Mission accomplished!  But we hate that mission, ahh, read on.

We’ve got to change the picture, right?  Well, not so fast.  Actually, the picture will change on it’s own.  It has to in response to how your present picture was created.  Because your present subconscious picture is the byproduct of your response to, your mess, right?  So as long as you keep pushing back and resenting your miserable state, the picture becomes even more vivid.  Remember Led Zeppelin?  If your song remains the same, so will your picture.  So here’s you’re exit strategy from hell, dear one…

CHANGE YOUR SONG!  “Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name.”  Start saying it now, don’t wait.  Declare it in the midst of crisis and calamity.  It drives the forces of darkness crazy. When you change your song (confession), the picture changes. It is never the other way around.

The spiritual law at work in our God-breathed universe is this:  Humans speak their world into existence.  So rather than bemoan your present state over and over, begin to rejoice in the midst of your circumstances; begin to “pre-play” your future with your words.  Thank God for this opportunity to once again prove His Word and His faithfulness in your life.  He has never left you, and He is not going to start now!

Sure, at first it sounds strange to say things like, “It feels so good that all our debt is canceled and wiped away…”   But don’t worry, the more you say it, the more you believe it and the more the picture changes.  The Lord will then begin to work for you and through you in natural and supernatural ways.  Ideas, opportunities and miracles will begin to flow as your life begins to conform to the new debt free picture.  You WILL be free!

Want out of the hole today?  Drop the shovel of complaining, hatred and anger and begin fashioning your ladder of escape by speaking the Word of God with faith and purpose.  Watch how quickly your new future is birthed.  And moving forward, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

You’re A Champion!  — PRG

What comes first, giving or receiving?  I’ll answer with a another question.  What would you have to give if you had not first received something?  Receiving comes before giving.  It always has.  It began when Father God breathed into the nostrils of that dirt-shaped man, and he became a living soul.

We received Christ’s love in order that we may give it back to others.  The Bible says that  He [JESUS] came to His own, but His own did not receive Him, but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. How long have God’s people being doing anything we believe could pry a blessing out of God’s hand,  when actually the Lord has been raining down abundance all around us; more than we could ever handle.  He’s still here among us and doing everything He has always done.  But so many receive Him not.

If there is anything we must learn to do as believers, it is to RECEIVE from God! Jer 9:20 says, “…And let your ear receive the word of His mouth…” What good father is not ready to bless his children whenever he possibly can?  Our God did not save us to make things hard for his children.  He invites us to receive His goodness.

God is always talking, blessing, healing, comforting, loving, nurturing, assuring, laughing, encouraging, teaching, and yes, sometimes correcting.  But the correcting is simply to position us to receive all that He wants to do for us every day.  How many times in scripture do we read how God spoke, but the people would not listen?  Nothing has changed.  God is till trying to be the ‘above all you can ask or think’ God of abundance while we settle for the crumbs of our own limitations.

Romans 5 tells us that those who receive the abundance of grace…will reign in life.  We read that He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness…that all things are ours.  And here’s the mind blower, God was showering His people with abundance in the Old Testament thousands of years before Christ! (Dt. 28:47).  It’s very clear dear friends.  God’s love and His blessings are too much for us to manage on any given day.  The question is, “Will you receive?”

Here’s my confession -  “Lord, make me a joyful and grateful receiver of all you have for my life today.  Not just for what I need, but what I desire, and better yet, for what I am too limited to know to ask!  Thank you.”

I am a Receiver!  How about you?