I know...I'm just as guilty as everyone else but it begins to get tiresome, every year it seems I make a NEW New Year's resolution, or I remake an old New Year's resolution only to fail. How many New Year's resolutions have I made that actully worked, that Isaw thru until the end, that ended just like Ihad planned? Not very many I would guess.
Why do we make New Year's resolutions, why do we make promises to change at the end of every year? I think it's because we feel dead inside, or in bondage and we want something new and invigorating for the New Year. I think this is especially true after Christmas. We put so much stock in Christmas and all of the anticipation for all of the marvelous gifts that we will receive, only to be disappointed because they bought us the wrong blender, or the purse was the wrong color, or the coat didn't fit. We need something to hope in, something that we think will fill a void that is left in us after the let down of the material, worldly let downs.
These lead us to being sad and disappointed, thus a resolution to make the new year different, better, and in the end to make ourselves or our life better or different in the end.
So what are the resolutions that we make? The first one that I think comes to everyones head is to lose weight? Admirable, and a healthy goal. But the crux of the matter is you need to determine why you need to lose weight. Is it to feel better, breath better, look better, be healthier, or to fit into those jeans from 10 years ago that you just need to give to someone younger and thiner. But, ultimately, why are we unhappy with our bodies. I believe it is because too much of our identity is wrapped up in our looks and what others think of us. Jesus says:
Luke 12:22-24 - then Jesus said to his disciples: "therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23:Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24:Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
So if we listen to Jesus...he says that our focus shouldn't be our body or what we eat, but who we are and living with him. He is in charge of making sure we have what we need including food, so if we focus on him, and not the food that is always in front of us, he will make sure we keep our appetites in check.
The next new years resolution that I think I've often made is to find success. What is success? Who determines what success is? Are we talking about earthly success or heavenly success? I think again we are looking to fill a void and find our identity in the success that our culture tells us we need Corporate America teaches us that to be successful you must sell your soul for their company and live for the company. The word of God says that our success comes from the Lord, not from this world.
2 Ch 26:5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
It's when we seek people or seek approval that we become addicted to success and need that success as some need food. If we make Jesus our the center of our life, He will give us success. That may not be the success that our culture tells us we need, but it will be a success that is everlasting
The next resolution that I know I have made, is to treat people better and to show the love of Jesus to them. The key to this one is to do it thru His power and Word and not our own strength or understanding. When we feel like we cannot possibly love those that He has put in our path, He can give us the grace to supernaturally love like never before.
Jesus says: Phil 4:12 and 13 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. <b>I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
He will give us His strength and His Grace to love those that are unlovable.
So what are these resolutions doing for us? Possibly making us more depressed because we don't seem to be able to keep them. I am excited to say, that if we make Jesus Christ our New Years Resolution, we can keep them. He is our strength, our motivation, our power, our discipline, our inspiration our encourager. Thru Him, not thru myself, I can accomplish anything. To do this, our eyes must be on HIM, for He is the author and finisher of our Faith, our purpose, our life, our eternity. We are nothing without Him..He gave up His son so that we could live forever with Him. But yet we continue to search for fulfillment in the things of this world, the material gifts from others, the successes that man says we must have and the physique that this culture says we should have.
But...all we need is Jesus - He is my 2012 New Years Resolution. I want Jesus, I want to share Jesus, I want more revelation of Jesus and I want to meet him in the sky....soon!!!
Make your 2012 New Years Resolution Jesus. I promise you, the other things will fade and not be as important. Christ will give you new desires that are fulfilled thru Him and they will be secondary once you truly see the love He has for you and the purpose He has placed on your life.
Jesus- the New Year Resolution
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Anticipation - 2012
I've spent a lot of time this Christmas reminiscing over Christmas celebrations in the past and thinking about this Christmas. What has changed, what is the same and what is going to change yet in the future. A little like The Christmas Story I guess, however the focus is a bit different than trying to put my life in order like the character from the movie.
At service last week I began to think about Christmas past at my father’s church. Advent services were so very special to me. A week by week encounter with the meaning of Christmas and a building of anticipation as we approached Christmas and the true celebration of His birth. So much pomp and circumstance with lights, banners, choral performances, musicals, plays, children’s performances and so much more.
My father and mother painted a grand picture of the birth of Christ for us as children and truly instilled in us the importance of His birth and how it changed the course of mankind for all of eternity. Each evening we would sit around the advent wreath, light that weeks candle and read a portion of the scripture which approached His birth. The suspense was building, the anticipation was building, and the wonder and awe were building.
It wasn't about the Christmas gifts, truly it wasn't. It was so much about anticipating his first coming and ultimately His second coming. What a great time of awe and wonder and innocence. I heard a sermon today that in order to keep that awe and wonder, we must share with others the story and history behind our own understanding of Christ's birth and His return and by sharing and watching others discover the awe, we relive it and keep it alive.
My only concern here is do people really even want the awe and wonder. Have we become so enamored with our material things, our busy lifestyle and our earthly successes, that we have forgotten that we would have none of it without Him. We spend all Christmas season searching for gold, silver, lights, beauty, fun, fellowship, fulfillment, new gidgets and gadgets and the latest crazy geeks toy, that we miss that we already have the gift that we are meant to have that fulfills all of our needs, and we don't even realize it.
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who is more precious than all silver and gold, who will one day rule all heaven and earth. Why are we looking for gifts from others, when the greatest gift is already ours, free and non-returnable. Jesus Christ - the Greatest Gift of all time. Let us continue to search for him, to seek revelation about him and to await His return with anticipation and joy. Be Blessed this Christmas season as you await His return.
At service last week I began to think about Christmas past at my father’s church. Advent services were so very special to me. A week by week encounter with the meaning of Christmas and a building of anticipation as we approached Christmas and the true celebration of His birth. So much pomp and circumstance with lights, banners, choral performances, musicals, plays, children’s performances and so much more.
My father and mother painted a grand picture of the birth of Christ for us as children and truly instilled in us the importance of His birth and how it changed the course of mankind for all of eternity. Each evening we would sit around the advent wreath, light that weeks candle and read a portion of the scripture which approached His birth. The suspense was building, the anticipation was building, and the wonder and awe were building.
It wasn't about the Christmas gifts, truly it wasn't. It was so much about anticipating his first coming and ultimately His second coming. What a great time of awe and wonder and innocence. I heard a sermon today that in order to keep that awe and wonder, we must share with others the story and history behind our own understanding of Christ's birth and His return and by sharing and watching others discover the awe, we relive it and keep it alive.
My only concern here is do people really even want the awe and wonder. Have we become so enamored with our material things, our busy lifestyle and our earthly successes, that we have forgotten that we would have none of it without Him. We spend all Christmas season searching for gold, silver, lights, beauty, fun, fellowship, fulfillment, new gidgets and gadgets and the latest crazy geeks toy, that we miss that we already have the gift that we are meant to have that fulfills all of our needs, and we don't even realize it.
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who is more precious than all silver and gold, who will one day rule all heaven and earth. Why are we looking for gifts from others, when the greatest gift is already ours, free and non-returnable. Jesus Christ - the Greatest Gift of all time. Let us continue to search for him, to seek revelation about him and to await His return with anticipation and joy. Be Blessed this Christmas season as you await His return.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Prophecy Given December 7th, 2011 - City on Fire
My Children,
Know that I am about to send a great fire upon the city of Kansas City. A fire unlike any other fire in history will come upon my children, those that are walking with me, and those that have not yet turned to me. The things of this world that have hindered my children from walking fully in my ways will be burned off of as dross is burned off of precious metal. As my fire, which is My Spirit, falls upon your hearts the things of this world will bubble up and be burned off. These are things that have hindered you from your full purpose; greed, depression, distractions of this world, money, success, houses, cars, jobs, children, addictions, immorality, religion, lack of understanding, forgiveness. All of these, as shackles around your feet, will be burned in the fire. As the shackles were burned off in the fiery furnace, so shall these be burned from you and free you to follow me with your whole being.
My fire will consume this city as a wild fire consumes a forest. My Spirit will consume the hearts of these people, burning within them so intensely it will cause them to seek release, thus causing them to run to the refreshing waters that await them. Seeking relief from the intensity of my love, they will run to the refreshing waters and find even more love.
The fire will multiply…it will multiply in this city, in this nation and in this world. Refreshing Waters will multiply, in this city, in this nation and in this world. All of this for one purpose, to multiply my Kingdom, to multiply my people.
December 7, 2011
As given to Karina Ruthenberg
Dream 7-25-11
Dream from 7-24-11
I had a dream that I was driving to work on I435 south. Almost immediately after getting on I 435 from Gregory I hit dead stopped traffic. I could almost see it from overhead. It reminded me of an armegeddon type movie where you see miles and miles of cars lined up, bumper to bumper on a busy freeway with no relief in site. People were getting out of their vehicle and talking to each other. The consensus was to not bother to try to head South or West because you would never make it to your destination. It was the opinion of most that you might as well turn around at the nearest exit.
As I got closer to the triangle, I noticed two buses that looked like tourest buses or the buses of a celebrity. Surrounding the buses were literally hundreds of police cars and ambulances. It looked as if the police had simply pulled the buses over and were "waiting" to proceed with anything futher at that time. I continued down the road and passed by the buses.
Once I crossed over the Grandview Triangle, I pulled off on 103rd to a bank and pulled into a parking lot. This distance of 3 or 4 miles took 4 or 5 hours. Once I got into the parking lot, I joined hundreds of others by getting out of my vehicle and chatting about what was occuring. Some stated that they had heard that there were several manholes or openings on the interstate that had been pried open and a man from one of the buses had been seen throwing a large package into the hole and then running from it.
At this point, the police and media were encouraging everyone to return to their homes and stay until further information could be given. I woke up....I had no fear, but feel that it is somewhat prophetic. I don't have the interpretation, but will be watching.
I had a dream that I was driving to work on I435 south. Almost immediately after getting on I 435 from Gregory I hit dead stopped traffic. I could almost see it from overhead. It reminded me of an armegeddon type movie where you see miles and miles of cars lined up, bumper to bumper on a busy freeway with no relief in site. People were getting out of their vehicle and talking to each other. The consensus was to not bother to try to head South or West because you would never make it to your destination. It was the opinion of most that you might as well turn around at the nearest exit.
As I got closer to the triangle, I noticed two buses that looked like tourest buses or the buses of a celebrity. Surrounding the buses were literally hundreds of police cars and ambulances. It looked as if the police had simply pulled the buses over and were "waiting" to proceed with anything futher at that time. I continued down the road and passed by the buses.
Once I crossed over the Grandview Triangle, I pulled off on 103rd to a bank and pulled into a parking lot. This distance of 3 or 4 miles took 4 or 5 hours. Once I got into the parking lot, I joined hundreds of others by getting out of my vehicle and chatting about what was occuring. Some stated that they had heard that there were several manholes or openings on the interstate that had been pried open and a man from one of the buses had been seen throwing a large package into the hole and then running from it.
At this point, the police and media were encouraging everyone to return to their homes and stay until further information could be given. I woke up....I had no fear, but feel that it is somewhat prophetic. I don't have the interpretation, but will be watching.
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