Tag: Blessings

What Has God Given You?

On December 26, 2017

(THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: What Has God Given You?)

WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN YOU?
First, God has given you what He has given all of us…..LIFE!
As I shared in the previous article “A Heart To Give,” God first formed man from the dust of the ground, breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and then suddenly man came alive! That man He named Adam. However, God didn’t stop there. When we read the first two chapters of Genesis, we see where God also gave Adam dominion over the earth and over all the animals. He was even given authority to name each animal. Although Adam had been granted much authority and was surrounded by various living creatures, God recognized that he was still alone. So later in the second chapter, God gave Adam the gift of a help meet who was just right for him. In other words, God gave Adam his wife whom He named Eve.

II Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Basically, when we give we should do so freely and willingly because that’s how God gives to us. God loves blessing His children! Again, consider Adam and Eve. God hooked them up! They were given power and lived as little gods here on earth. Unfortunately, they did what many people do by taking God’s gifts for granted. Instead of appreciating all the blessings God had given them, they allowed the serpent, who was being used by Satan, to convince them that God was somehow cheating or depriving them. Even though they had an abundance of trees and fruits to enjoy, they believed the lie that they still needed to eat from the one tree God told them to leave alone, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Consequently, they forfeited their gifts. For instance, they no longer had authority over the earth and over all living creatures. They no longer had the luxury of living forever. Moreover, they lost the closeness they had with God.

According to Genesis 3:8-10, after Adam and Eve messed up, they tried to hide from God. Because of their disobedience, they were too ashamed to face Him. They weren’t comfortable with the thought of approaching Him. Their relationship with God was now different, and their lives were never going to be the same. Isaiah 59:2 lets us know that sin separates an individual from God because God is holy. In other words, sin is the direct opposite of who God is! Although their choice to disobey God caused the rest of mankind to be born into sin, because God is loving, merciful, kind and gracious, He devised another plan.

WHAT IS GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT GIFT?
Of all the blessings or gifts God has given us, what is the most important gift? John 3:16, which is one of the most popular and significant scriptures in the Bible, answers that question. It says:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” (King James Version).

Because God has always loved us (the human race), He gave us His only begotten Son or His one and only Son Jesus so we would have a chance at eternal life. Therefore, those of us who have accepted God’s gift of salvation have Heaven to look forward to.

As a parent, can you imagine offering your only son or your only child in order to save the lives of everyone else? And the people you desire to save don’t even appreciate you? Can you imagine that? Well, God gave the gift of His Son for people who were and still are liars, cheaters, thieves, murderers, adulterers, fornicators and idol worshipers. He offered this precious gift to people who don’t even honor Him. I think about the times throughout the Old Testament when God’s people, those He called His chosen people, would turn their backs on Him. Nevertheless, He was still willing to stick to His plan and send His ONLY Son. In fact, throughout the Old Testament there are various prophecies about the coming Messiah or the Anointed One who is none other than Jesus. This is what the prophet Isaiah said about Him in Isaiah 7:14 (KJV):

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us.’).”

This prophecy indeed came to past. In the first chapter of the book of Luke, the angel Gabriel visited Mary, who was still a virgin at the time, and informed her that she would conceive and give birth to a son. However, this child would not come from the seed of a man, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Then in chapter two, she gave birth to Jesus. So, again God willingly and freely gave His Son Jesus so that we each would have the opportunity to be set free from our sins, to be reconnected with God Himself, and to gain eternal life!

HAVE YOU RECEIVED GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION?
Have you received God’s gift of salvation? If not, I encourage you to do so! When you do, you will be given a new life…..a life in God!
And there’s nothing like it because God has many more gifts to give you! For example, God offers His gift of love which holds you, protects you and assures you that you’re not alone.

He also offers His gift of peace which brings you a calmness that the average person can’t fathom. God even has His gift of joy which causes you to smile when nothing special has happened and makes you laugh when no one has told a joke.

If you have already received God’s gift of salvation, then I encourage you to continue honoring God for who He is by living a life that pleases Him. Then in DUE TIME, He will give you every blessing or gift He has in store for you!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION
If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Be Thankful

By Kimberly Joy

On November 6, 2017

In Praise & Thanksgiving, Prayer

https://www.facebook.com/thekimberlyjoy/videos/534653223553750/(THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: The Thanksgiving Prayer Challenge)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THANKFUL
My personal motto is Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Love Yourself. Knowing who you are in God, being who you are with no apologies and loving who you are wholeheartedly includes being THANKFUL to God! When we’re thankful to God, we don’t take what He has done for us lightly or take Him for granted. We are just as thankful for the small blessings as we are for the big ones. For instance, if my dad gives me a brand new car that I don’t have to pay one dime for and that is, in fact, completely paid for with my name on the title, then that is a big blessing.

In my eyes, it’s a big blessing because currently I don’t have the money to pay for a brand new car in full.

On the other hand, if I’m standing in line at Kroger when I realize I’m $4 short, and if the woman standing behind me offers to cover the rest of my bill, then I would call that a small blessing. I consider it a small blessing because I CAN afford $4. As a matter of fact, that actually happened to me. In that particular incident, I miscalculated how much money I had in my purse. Nevertheless, I didn’t worry about it because I wasn’t in dire need of everything I had placed in my cart. However, the woman still offered to pay for the remaining items.

Although it was only $4, I recognized it was still a blessing from God. Let’s be honest, most people wouldn’t do what she did for me. So, when I got to the car and sat behind the steering wheel, I took a moment to thank the Lord for that unexpected blessing.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE THANK GOD?
I Thessalonians 5:18 (King James Version) says:

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

As the verse states, we are to be thankful in every situation. Yes, EVERY situation! I’ve come to realize we can be thankful even in difficult, uncomfortable situations. For example, about 20 years ago my brother, who was a recent high school graduate at the time, was given permission one night to take our dad’s Cadillac, so he could go out with his friends. Later as he was driving home, he fell asleep at the wheel. When he woke up, he realized the car was crashing into a guardrail. In that moment, he decided to open the car door and jump out. Why did he jump out? I don’t think he even knew at the time. Some might say it was instinct, but I say it was an angel of the Lord protecting him because that same Cadillac wound up getting TOTALED!

When he got to a phone, he called our dad. I remember my brother saying how terrified he was of making that phone call because of the condition of the car. Although he was 18 years old and about to go off to college, he just knew he was in serious trouble. When our dad got the call, he was very angry at first. Needless to say, once he saw how bad the car had been wrecked, his anger was suddenly replaced with relief and thankfulness. He no longer cared about that Cadillac. He was just glad his son was able to walk away from that accident with only a bump on the knee. A fancy car could never compare to the life of his son!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the time of year when we get together with family and friends to love on each other and EAT, to laugh and EAT, to play and EAT, to watch football and EAT, to shop and EAT, and then to EAT some more. You get my drift, right?

In addition, this particular holiday serves as a reminder that we are to be thankful for our blessings. Naturally, as believers in Christ, every day should be Thanksgiving for us. However, if we were to be honest, that’s not always the case. Sometimes we get caught up in everyday happenings and neglect to thank God.

WHAT IS THE THANKSGIVING PRAYER CHALLENGE?
I want to present you with The Thanksgiving Prayer Challenge. For one week during your daily prayer time, instead of presenting God with a list of things for Him to do, I challenge you to present God with a list of reasons why you’re thankful. In other words, spend time in prayer just THANKING Him. Although Philippians 4:6 tells us to make our petitions known to God, it also tells us to be thankful. Don’t you like it when those around you just appreciate you? God’s the same way! Let me give you an example.

When I was younger, even in my early 20s, I typically only called my father when I needed something, whether it was money or his help. So, whenever I called, he would say something like, “What’s wrong daughter?” or “What do you need?” And that was the norm for us! It wasn’t until I got older, when I realized that, although our dad is always willing to be there for my brother and me, he still wants to feel loved and appreciated. Sometimes, he wants us to call him just to (as he likes to say) “shoot the breeze”. So, now I make it a point to call my dad JUST BECAUSE, and he absolutely loves it!

So, again I CHALLENGE you! Instead of presenting a To-Do list to God, just spend time thanking Him.

Lord I thank You for saving me!
Lord I thank You for waking me up this morning healthy and in my right mind!
Lord I thank you for loving me, for keeping me, for encouraging me, for guiding my footsteps!

Lord I thank you for my family!
Lord I thank You for saving my loved ones!
I thank You for blessing my parents with long lives and healthy bodies and minds!

I thank You for my nieces and nephews, for being a hedge of protection around them every day, for keeping them from being abused and violated in any way and for them growing up to be successful men and women of God!

Lord I thank You for my job, for my home, for my clothes, for my shoes, for my food, for my car!
I thank You God for not giving up on me when I wanted to give up!
I thank You God for loving me when I didn’t know how to love myself!

Lord I thank You for those who are reading this article right now! Thank You Lord for drawing them closer to You and for meeting every need in their lives!
Lord, I thank You!
Lord, I love You!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION
If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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P.U.S.H. Chapter Four

By Kimberly Joy

On April 11, 2017

In Prayer

P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to pray continually. To pray is to communicate with God, to make our petitions (needs and desires) known to Him. Although God knows everything about us, including what we need or want before we open our mouths to ask, He still requires that we come to Him in prayer.

To be able to pray to God—the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of all mankind, the Creator of every living being—and share what’s on my heart and mind, is a privilege! I’m honored to know that God wants to hear from me. I’m even more honored when I hear from Him.

Let me give you an example.

Early one morning back in January, I was driving to work, while having my regular praise and worship session in the car. During any typical morning session, I may pray, sing a worship song or listen to my Gospel music. On this particular morning while I was worshipping God, I heard Him say, “I love you!” I must say I was pleasantly surprised!

Now, don’t get me wrong! I don’t doubt God’s love for me! He shows me every day in so many ways that He loves me! It was just a special moment to have the Father—the Creator, the God of all—tell me He loves me!!! As a result, I immediately began crying tears of joy. Just hearing God say He loves me reminded me of how AMAZING He is! I could then feel His loving presence even more in the car.

Moments like that particular morning only make my faith in God even stronger. Moreover, I can now hear God’s voice more clearly because I’ve learned the importance of, not only talking to God in prayer, but LISTENING to God!

HOW LONG SHOULD WE PRAY?
As people of God, we understand that we must pray, that we need to pray, that God expects and desires to hear from us. However…..how LONG should we pray? How long should we pray about a particular situation or for a particular person?

UNTIL!!!!!

According to the dictionary, until is defined as “up to (a particular time); used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time.” In other words, I Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) says:

“Pray without ceasing.”

To pray without ceasing doesn’t mean we’re to pray continually for 24 hours. We still have to go to work and take care of our families. We still have to live our lives! Nevertheless, while we’re living, we should consistently keep God number one.

God should always be the first one we consult with any situations we face. In addition, when we go to God in prayer, we must do so in faith, trusting and knowing He’s going to work His PERFECT plan in our lives and in the lives of those around us. I describe God’s plans as PERFECT because GOD is perfect and makes no mistakes. Jeremiah 29:11(NLT) says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When God works His perfect plan in our lives, He does it in His own timing. He knows WHEN we’re ready to receive what we’re praying for. For example, consider the youth, particularly teenagers. Some teenagers want to be grown before their time. They want to hurry up and get out of high school. They want their own homes and vehicles. They want to be able to come and go as they please. They want to live like adults because they THINK they’re ready. Since they can now wear adult clothes, grow facial hair or even have a baby, they think they know everything.

However, the truth is they don’t know everything, and they’re not ready for adulthood. So, if they’re pushed out into the real world before they’re prepared, it may be detrimental, even costing them their very lives. Runaway teenagers, for instance, are easily targeted and persuaded into engaging in criminal activities, like drug dealing and prostitution, because they don’t have enough knowledge, understanding, training or strength to make rational, mature, adult decisions.

PREPARE YOURSELF
Therefore, just like a teenager is not ready to be an adult, there are some things you may not be ready to receive from God. Just because the desire is strong doesn’t mean you’re ready. God may show you in a vision what He’s going to do in your life or send one of His prophets to give you a word, but it still doesn’t mean you’re ready. God just wants you to be aware of what lies ahead and to prepare yourself. A huge part of preparing yourself is continuing to pray!

I know it seems like certain prayers aren’t being answered. However, truthfully, the prayers ARE being answered! They’re just being answered according to your readiness. God knows you better than you know yourself! Therefore, He knows if and when you’re ready for certain things to manifest in your life.

Just because some prayers aren’t answered as quickly as others doesn’t mean you and I should stop praying. God still expects us to pray because while we’re praying fervently and consistently, He is working His PERFECT plan. He’s taking us through a process to get us ready spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially to receive those blessings. The beauty of it all is God does that for us simply because He loves us!

Personally speaking, I appreciate God making me wait for some things. I never thought I would get to a point in my life where I would make such a bold statement. However, I now have a greater understanding. In my waiting, I mature and gain more knowledge. I become stronger, wiser, and better prepared for what I’m about to receive. Plus, I have a greater appreciation for what I receive! In fact, I find that we, as human beings, tend to appreciate some things more when we have to wait and work for those things. Whenever a person isn’t ready for a particular blessing, he or she may very well lose it as quickly as it was received.

So, I encourage you to keep praying, praising, worshipping, fasting, attending church, studying God’s Word and obeying God! Allow God to mold you, shape you and make you into the person He has created and called you to be. Don’t fight the process of prayer, but work through it and continue to P.U.S.H!

(“The Kimberly Joy Show: P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens Part 4”)

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Life Has Its Rewards When We Draw Nigh to God

By Kimberly Joy

On January 30, 2017

In Faith

(“The Kimberly Joy Show: Rewards of Drawing Nigh to God”)

Life has its rewards when we draw nigh to God. So, it is in our best interests to surrender to the Creator, the one in control. After all, He has EVERYTHING we need! Unfortunately, as human beings, sometimes we forget that and behave as if we can do everything on our own. However, we cannot! Contrary to what some people believe, we can’t do anything without God because, again, He is our Creator. Acts 17:28 says:

“…In Him [God] we live, and move, and have our being…”

We breathe because of God. Our hearts beat because of God. We wake up every morning because of God. Therefore, we need God!

So many rewards are gained from drawing nigh to God. For one, we gain salvation and eternal life. Initially, we come close to God by accepting His Son Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus says in John 14:6:

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

Now, you may ask, “Why do I have to go through Jesus to get to God?” The answer is very simple. God set it up that way! According to Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, life became difficult for them. Their rebellion brought sin and death into the world. God had created them to live forever, to never experience pain, illness or death. Nevertheless, their decision changed all that. They would eventually grow old, weak and die. Moreover, EVERY person coming after them (including you and me) would experience the same thing.

Adam and Eve’s rebellion also caused a rift in their relationship with God. They became spiritually dead and were no longer connected to God. Therefore, because of the sin, death, and disconnection, God sent His Son Jesus to earth to serve as a Mediator. What is a mediator, you ask? A mediator is “a person who intervenes between two individuals who are not in agreement.” Sin causes us NOT to be in agreement with God. However, when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, He acts as our Mediator and reconciles us back to God. In other words, Jesus reunites us with God. 1 Timothy 2:5 says:

“For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.”

Once we are reunited with God, God no longer sees us as sinners, but as His righteous children who will one day live with Him forever. II Corinthians 5:21 says:

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

Another reward we gain when we draw nigh to God is peace. Romans 5:1 says:

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

How would you define peace? Some definitions include “freedom from disturbance; quiet; tranquility, calm, restfulness.” In the biblical sense, peace means “to be complete” or “to be sound.” II Timothy 1:7 says:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

When we are made right with God through Jesus, we are complete. As our pastor Apostle Banks always says, “Nothing missing, nothing broken!” Everything we need is in God. So, we don’t have to fear anything or anyone. We don’t have to fear what will happen tomorrow because God is our Father, and He is ALWAYS with us.

I’ll give you an example:

About three months ago, I was heading home around 6:30 in the evening. As I was driving, my car started acting strangely and eventually just shut completely off! EVERYTHING shut off! I couldn’t even get the key out of the ignition! Naturally, because I was feeling helpless and scared, I could feel myself tearing up.

A couple of minutes later, a few people stopped to try to help me, but they couldn’t. Then a few minutes after that, an older gentleman stopped to help. Fortunately, the man turned out to be a mechanic. Within twenty minutes, he had my car running well enough for me to get home. Not only did he turn out to be a mechanic, but he also happens to live near me. So, he offered to follow me home just in case I had any more problems. Once we got my car home, he then offered to repair my car, and two days later I was back in business!

Through that particular experience, God reassured me that He has my back! No matter what situation I am in, I don’t have to fear. I only need to have faith in God because He makes my life complete. In other words, God gives me PEACE! In fact, even as my car was shutting down right before my very eyes, God was whispering in my ear, “Trust Me!”

In addition, when we draw nigh to God we receive healing. We can be healed physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, I want to focus on physical healing. I find that sometimes as believers we don’t believe that we can be healed in our bodies. But, we CAN be healed if we just ask God and believe Him. Throughout the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), we read about how Jesus healed so many people. As believers, we are to follow His example. We can receive healing for ourselves and for others. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them power to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. When we as believers draw nigh to God, He gives us the same power!

In our church Power and Faith Ministries, many people have been healed from cancer and other diseases. In fact, a gentleman in our church was healed from a brain tumor approximately ten years ago. The doctors had done everything they could do, and told his wife to call the family in to say their final goodbyes. However, she wasn’t willing to give up that easily. So, we continued to pray and stand on the Word of God. As a result, her husband was healed and he is STILL walking in his healing today!!!

While I was an English teacher at Dater High School, I witnessed God heal two of my students. One was healed from cancer and the other from near-blindness. When they each first told me about their illnesses, I called on other prayer warriors to join me in praying for their healing. I even went to see my student who had cancer, while he was in the hospital. Soon after we prayed, God healed both of them. I now communicate with them from time to time via social media, and I am happy to say that they are STILL doing well!

As believers in Christ Jesus, when we draw nigh to God, He shows us that we don’t have to accept what the doctors say or what our bodies tell us. We can receive total healing if we just believe!

So many other rewards can be attained when we draw nigh to God. Personally speaking, as I draw closer to God I receive more and more from Him, not just material blessings, but spiritual blessings. I hear His voice more clearly and He continues to use me for His glory. And, at the end of the day, that is what is most important. So, I encourage YOU to keep drawing nigh to God and trust that, as Psalms 84:11 states, there is no good thing He will withhold from you!

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Attitude of Gratitude

By Kimberly Joy

On November 21, 2016

In Praise & Thanksgiving

http://https://youtu.be/kUI9LjJLOvI

Thanksgiving is the time of year in which we are reminded to be thankful or to have—–an Attitude of Gratitude. Needless to say, as a child of God, I must possess this attitude beyond the holiday season. In fact, it is my daily goal. Although I sometimes fall short, through prayer, praise and reading God’s Word, I find myself becoming more grateful.

It took me years to finally understand that having an Attitude of Gratitude is a choice. I was (and still am) a radical praiser, the one who could be heard all over the sanctuary with my loud voice. I found it easy to forget about my problems and just focus on the Lord whenever I was in the presence of other believers. Besides, I’ve always loved church! Even as a teenager, I enjoyed the music, the singing, the high praise, and powerful preaching. I especially loved witnessing someone accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, get healed, or even delivered. I would cry as if it were me standing at the altar. However, I didn’t always maintain that same attitude of praise once the service ended. Why? I didn’t have what I like to now call an Attitude of Gratitude. I wasn’t continually grateful; instead of appreciating all the blessings I had, I focused on what I didn’t have.

I can recall a time in the 8th grade when one of my classmates asked me a question which left me stunned! We had just returned to the locker room from gym class and were preparing to go on to the next bell, when she asked, “Kim, why are you so mean?” I didn’t know how to answer that question because I didn’t consider myself mean. Looking back on it, I now know that she mistook my lack of gratitude for meanness. For instance, I only smiled if someone gave me a reason to smile. Since I didn’t like everything about myself, I wasted time comparing myself to other people. Because I focused on what I thought were good qualities in others, I failed to see the good qualities I already possessed, those qualities God had place inside of me. SO, I didn’t smile. Now, please understand that I am in no way saying that I was never happy or had a horrible childhood. Not at all! God blessed me with two awesome parents!!! Although they later divorced, they continued to take excellent care of my brother and me. I just didn’t understand, at the time, that I could smile and be happy just because…just because I’m alive…just because God is GOD!!!!

I carried this mindset into adulthood because I still didn’t get it! I was a young woman with two college degrees, a career, a home, a car, and, most importantly, a relationship with God. Nevertheless, I would allow myself to have moments of depression because of the one thing I felt like was missing from my life……………A HUSBAND! I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it now, but it’s the truth! Although I had so many other great blessings, I believed that I couldn’t truly be happy until I had a man in my life. In fact, there were times I REFUSED to be happy! I thought that if I cried long enough and hard enough, that God would grant me my wish (as if God were a “genie in a bottle”). I was foolishly waiting for a man to make me happy when I could just choose to be happy by having an Attitude of Gratitude. My situation reminds me of Adam and Eve in the third chapter of Genesis. They had all those delightful trees at their disposal, but they just HAD to eat from the tree God told them to leave alone. They became so fixated on that ONE tree, that they failed to appreciate the ABUNDANCE God had already given them!

Fast forwarding to today, currently I don’t make the amount of money I was making before and, that’s okay! It’ll come around again! I understand that God had to take me on a journey, in order to make me into the woman I am now. In other words, God had to humble me! Even though I don’t have as many material things as I once did, I am happier than I’ve ever been! Why? In time I came to learn that, as a child of God, I must have an Attitude of Gratitude. Just praising the Lord in church is not enough; my attitude must always be right. The apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” As the scripture explains, God expects us to be grateful in every situation. Now that I choose to maintain an Attitude of Gratitude, I find myself smiling A LOT. I laugh as often as possible, even when no one is watching. As Nehemiah 8:10 says, the joy of the Lord is my strength! Moreover, my relationship with God is stronger than ever, which is more important to me than anything or anyone in this world. No one can love me and take care of me like God can!

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PUSH! Your Blessing Is on the Other Side of the Door!

By Kimberly Joy

On September 26, 2016

In Prayer

PUSH! Your blessing is on the other side of the door! Yes! That’s right! P.U.S.H! Pray Until Something Happens! The first time I heard that phrase, it truly resonated with me! Oftentimes, we give up on God AND on ourselves too quickly! However, some blessings take time. We’re on God’s schedule, not our own. Recently, I was afforded the opportunity to minister on this topic at my church. This is some of what God had me share with the congregation.

P(ray)USH
It’s safe to assume that many people, at least, know the dictionary definition of prayer. To pray means “to communicate with God; to make our petitions (our needs and desires) known to Him.” To take it a step further, as Christians prayer is part of our covenant relationship with God. If we go back to the beginning, we see that God created the first man Adam to have open communication with Him. Adam’s bond with God was so tight that when he and his wife Eve chose to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they felt compelled to hide once they heard God’s voice. They recognized God’s voice because of the relationship.

Genesis 3:7-10:
“7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

When Adam and Eve sinned, it caused a rift between God and man and brought sin and death into the world. Nevertheless, we can be thankful for Jesus coming to this earth to serve as our Mediator!

II Corinthians 5:17-18a:
“17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18a And all of this is a gift from God, Who brought us back to Himself through Christ.”

For those of us who now have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we have direct access to Him. Therefore, God expects and WANTS to hear from us. John 10:27 states, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” However, in order for any of us to KNOW the voice of God (like Adam and Eve did), we must spend considerable time with Him in prayer, worship, and studying His Word. Throughout the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we see how even JESUS spent time alone praying to God. He acknowledged His Father and never did anything without His consent. So just like the Savior of the world, God EXPECTS us to talk to Him. Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” God always wants to be the FIRST one we consult.

PU(ntil)SH
Now that we understand that we must pray, how long should we pray, perhaps about a particular situation or person? We pray UNTIL! Until is defined as “up to (a particular time); used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time.” In other words, the Bible says that we are to “pray without ceasing,” (I Thessalonians 5:17). As I stated earlier, some blessings take more time than others, or a greater PUSH!!! For instance, my brother and his wife have three children who are all blessings! In fact, I was fortunate to be present at the hospital the day each of their two sons were born. Although both sons are indeed blessings to their parents, the oldest required a greater PUSH. My sister-in-law went into labor on a Friday afternoon. However, the baby didn’t make his entrance into the world until approximately 4 AM Saturday morning. When she went into labor with their second son three years later, I assumed it would be a similar experience. Upon arriving at the hospital soon after receiving the call that my brother was taking her there, I was shocked to discover my sister-in-law already holding the newly born infant. So again, even though both of my nephews are a tremendous blessing, one required a longer wait and a greater PUSH. This doesn’t imply that the eldest child is more special than his brother and sister; it’s just the way God set it up. We don’t always understand everything God does. But, we don’t have to understand, we just have to TRUST Him!

PUS(omething)H
That “something” is whatever we’re believing God to do. Now, if that “something” is not in God’s plan, He’ll let us know. If and when He does, we shouldn’t fight it! Stepping outside of God’s will is a risk none of us should take. Rather, we should trust that the Creator of all mankind knows what’s best. He assures us of that truth in Jeremiah 29:11. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” However, if God confirms that what we’re praying for is in His will, then we dare not give up!

PUSH(appens)
Why do we sometimes have to wait for the blessing? In the process of waiting, God is building and preparing us inwardly for what is on the other side of the door. Just because we strongly desire a particular blessing doesn’t mean we’re ready to receive it. For example, I may have a vision to own my own business and be my own boss. However, God may not allow that door to open yet because He knows I need a little more knowledge and patience. If He let’s me start a business prematurely, I may lose it due to a lack of preparation. God loves us so much that He’s willing to cause a delay to insure our protection and future successes! Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” So, keep praying! Keep praising! Keep declaring God’s Word and promises! Keep persevering! Keep preparing! Keep obeying! Keep BELIEVING……until you PUSH the door OPEN!!!!!

The following video clip is an excerpt from the message I preached “PUSH! Pray Until Something Happens!” You may visit my youtube channel to hear more of the message.

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