Aisle Number Six
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Peaceful

AISLE SIX

When I was a child I used to look forward to spending one on one time with my Dad. When we would have the time alone, one of the places he’d take me was to the toy store.

I would be in awe, fascinated by all of the new toys on Aisle One. My Dad knew some of the most expensive toys would be at my eye level and easily attainable in this aisle. He knew they would be shiny, expensive and sport other vivid colors. In spite of my fascination, my Dad would try to convince me that there are more choices and possibly toys I’d prefer better in the back of the store in Aisle Six. I was stubborn though and my Dad would endure my whining and finally let me choose the toy I thought I really wanted. He was quick to remind me that I can only have just one toy so I’d better make a good choice. His rule was one toy, one choice~That’s it! There were no substitutions or second thoughts. I remembered how I scanned the shelves at the front of the store, taking my time and examining each perspective toy as well as any eight year old could. Finally, I’d look up at him with a satisfied smile on my face holding up my prize. I was simply beaming. He asked me if I was sure this was the toy I wanted and was I told him I was absolutely sure the one I picked was right for me. I still didn’t want to explore the rest of the store and I told him I was happy with my choice.

After the cashier rung up my toy and bagged it for me, my father took me to the back of the store. I remember him holding my hand with a serious expression on his face. He walked me gingerly past aisle two, three, four and five. I thought this was a waste of time because I’d had my toy. I chose my treat. He stopped at Aisle Six. He was silent and just allowed me to look around. It was then I realized my mistake! I shouldn’t have been so lazy to not want to walk a bit further to the back of the store, shouldn’t have been so impulsive to pick up the first toy and shouldn’t have been so stubborn when Daddy suggested I wait. Aisle Six had better toys lining the shelves! They were more durable, better quality and more affordable. The toys were more fun and offered in colors that appealed even more to me than the toy I chose from Aisle One. It was then that I regretted my decision to pick a toy so quickly.

When my father saw my countenance fall he reminded me that I had only one chance to choose and I had to live with the choice of toy I held in my hands. What added insult to injury was that Aisle Six hosted an atmosphere of peace? No crowds there or any commotion. I was then able to see that the toy from Aisle One was cheap, expensive and wouldn’t last any length of time for long-term fun. My limited experience didn’t allow me to see what would happen in the long run. I learned from this experience with my Dad that day when answers are easily attainable doesn’t mean it is the best resolution to a problem. The toys or solutions may seem so easy to entertain when God isn’t in the decision making but ultimately it brings sorrow because it’s our own intellect that dictated the outcome. God’s blessings enhance us without adding sorrow to our lives. He only bestows good gifts to us when we acquire them the holy way and when we seek His direction for problem resolution. Let us not move too quickly to find answers for life’s difficulties.

We should always seek God for guidance and let Him help us with any decision, small or great. I thought I was being independent when I chose that toy from Aisle One with my Dad. Even though he knew I had a better toy waiting me in Aisle Six, he allowed me to make my decision. He loved me enough to let me make that choice. He also required me to live my choice. We need to engage wisdom that is God given for every matter in order to live a successful Christian life. It is only then we can truly enjoy our time on earth and maintain our relationship with the Father. Let the Lord love you enough to expose you to the best He has in store. Don’t be so quick to find the quick fix. Let the Lord give you the God fix for life’s dilemmas. Take a long walk with the Father today. Let Him show you all He has for you. Whatever you need is probably in Aisle Six.

Be encouraged child of the most high God~!

DO YOU HAVE REAL PEACE?
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Peaceful

DO YOU HAVE REAL PEACE?

 

Funny how you grow and change as time goes by. Funny how the Lord let you see you. I was thinking today about the state of my life and all the change that has taken place for me in ministry over the last three months. It was then that I suddenly realized something. I had the wrong idea of what true Christ like peace was supposed to be.

 

At one time I thought REAL PEACE was having all the bills paid or being able to spend a couple of hundred dollars on clothes. I thought it was having that special someone or being cool with my girls. I thought real peace was having a job that was secure or validation by my church leadership. But in growing and learning I found out that isn't true peace.

 

In the last three years, I've learned that true peace, real peace is in Jesus. REAL PEACE is when you just lost your job and you're not stressed even when the rent is due tomorrow. REAL peace is when the only significant other in your life is Jesus and the relationship you have with him fascinates you so much that you don't want to share your time with anyone else right now. REAL peace is knowing that you and God are so ok, that you don't care if the others at church or anyone else ever validates you. REAL PEACE is knowing you're healed even if the doctor says there's no known effective treatment. REAL peace is complete trust in God.

 

REAL peace is resting in God for everything. REAL PEACE is allowing Him to be your safety net, whether you can see the provision or not. REAL PEACE drives us to help someone else in need....even when we have a need ourselves! Real Christ embedded peace within us compels us to share the gospel, whether the person received it or not. REAL PEACE allows us to rest in the joy of the Lord and smile sincerely through all adversity. REAL PEACE, the God kind of peace gives us strength to deal with any situation or any loss that our lives may present us. When we've cultivated REAL peace in our spirit, we don't trip when people betray us lie to us or on us. It teaches us how to ride out our storms that arise in our lives with grace and dignity. REAL PEACE tells us that the Lord will vindicate us from anything the enemy throws at us. REAL PEACE lets us truly love all people and pray for them without harboring any kind of malice. REAL PEACE in the Lord allows you to break forth in laughter and dancing even if there's no music playing. REAL PEACE motivates us to greet each day with expectancy because we're anxious to hear what the Lord will say to us next.

 

REAL PEACE comes when we kill more of our flesh and embrace the desire to be more like Christ. REAL PEACE in Christ is trust and which is the foundation of any loving relationship. REAL peace is blind trust and unwavering love for our Saviour. I thank God for every revelation He gives me. He's shown me how to come to that place of attaining REAL PEACE. During this season, seek the Saviour so that you too can find and bask in REAL PEACE.

 

Be encouraged child of the most high God~!

____________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Denise J. Williams is the founder and Pastor of Broken Vessel Outreach Ministries International. She has just completed her first book entitled “The Healing Of A Broken Vessel” which should be on the shelves in early 2009. She and her husband reside in Jacksonville, Fl.

 

copyright 2008~11/20/08

Copyright © 2008

http://www.thebrokenvessel.com

Email: pastorwilliams@bluebottle.com

THE SECRET OF PRAYER!
Mood:  happy
Topic: PRAYER

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Like many people, I used to struggle in my prayer life. I would feel guilty,
condemn myself and even evade the topic of prayer with other saints because I
felt like a failure. I thought that my good work, faithful church attendance and
tithing would offset the fact that my prayer life wasn't what it should be
for someone like me who professed an undying faith in Jesus. I would try to have
devotions before I'd pray and fall asleep while reading a scripture. I'd
engage in corporate prayer at church, but that didn't satisfy the intimacy I
needed with the Lord that comes through personal, private prayer.

I know that prayer is one of three powerful tools we have as believers. The
other two tools of fasting and studying the word are only complemented by having
a strong, consistent prayer life. The bible says in the book of James 5:16 it
states "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." This declaration that James makes reminds us that God hears and
responds to prayer. He loves when we seek Him, worship Him and acknowledge Him.
He loves to bless us! He wants us to know Him in a personal way. Prayer offers
us that. Prayer gives us a calming peace and security that only the Father can
provide for us. This peace that surpasses all understanding that is mentioned in
Phillipans 4:7 is given to us freely by a God who loves us unconditionally.

I wanted to seek God about my prayer life and in order to do so I felt I had to
make some declarations. The first one I made was that my prayer life needed an
overhaul. The second was that I needed to repent to God for avoiding prayer and
making excuses for not praying consistently. Next I wanted to learn how to pray
so that my prayers were more effective.

I needed to re-examine the scripture in James 5:16. It does state that the
prayers of the righteous carry weight with the Lord, however it also states that
we must "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
ye may be healed." I didn't realize it at the time, but I needed to be
honest with fellow believers that I was struggling with finding quality time to
cultivate my prayer life. I needed their support, their prayers and their love
to help me get through the dry season I was experiencing in my prayer life. The
times of pretending, hiding and borderline lying about how much time I was
spending with God needed to stop. Immediately.

Next I wanted God to teach me how to pray. I searched the word and took a new
look at the Lord's prayer. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus tells the disciples how NOT
to pray. He talked in the previous verses about "vain repetitions". In
other words, I shouldn't try to impress God with selfish, distant prayers. I
needed to be honest with God about whatever I needed at that moment. The next
thing God revealed to me was that I needed to have conversations with the Lord,
not feel like prayer is a forced, painful ritual that requires me to put in
time. When I thought of prayer this way, as a duty it created a bondage for me
and therefore I'd avoid it. When I re-read the Lord's prayer I learned
to talk to God which is what praying really is. The prayer teaches me to simply
acknowledge God by telling Him his name is "hallowed", sacred and
holy. It tells me to ask God to make His will known in my life (thy kingdom come
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). It reminds me to ask God for !
 provision or daily bread, to forgive me for anything I've done amiss and
to have mercy on people that sin against me. This passage told me to always ask
God to keep temptations from me and keep me delivered from evil. Then the
closing acknowledges His sovereign power.

God used this prayer to give me a revelation. My spirit was illuminated after
reading this passage prayerfully. Why I never saw this before I can't answer
but I will never forget the day I'd received this understanding concerning
prayer. The Lord showed me that I was simply making too much of a production of
prayer. When I used to do this, it would make praying a burdensome task and
I'd feel bondage instead of freedom. The Lord showed me that praying
isn't a prison. It's a way to simply talk to my best friend~Jesus! I
didn't have to have a structured prayer time every day. I could pray to the
Father ANYTIME of day, any day of the week. Tradition taught me to set aside a
prayer time daily that may include a set time to begin and end. The Lord showed
me that I could pray in my car, in class, at work or even when preparing dinner
for my family. I could pray when washing dishes or while I'm cleaning the
bathroom. I learned that my prayers to God don't have to have formality
they just need to be sincere.

I learned that God loves when we talk to Him. He loves when we are honest with
Him and tell Him our vulnerabilities so He can fix what ails us. He wants us to
cast all of our cares on Him. I'm so glad I sought the Lord about prayer
because it freed me from the traditions of men that I was taught concerning
prayer. Yes I could still have a set time daily to meet the Lord in prayer if I
choose to but if I miss that time, I could still talk to the Father and He will
honor my prayer.

The reason why I love the Lord so much is because when we struggle with issues,
He speaks the answers. He loves us too much to allow us to feel any bondage
because whom Jesus set free is free indeed. Talk to the Father where ever you
are. Have an honest conversation with the Lord. Make Him your best friend. That
is the secret of prayer…..

Be encouraged child of the most high God~!

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copyright 2008~11/20/08

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"Win 'em for Jesus! A soul at a time!"