PUT IT INTO PRACTICE! 

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “talk is cheap.” It’s one thing to talk about it; it’s another thing to do it! Building your life on the word of God is about doing the word of God, not just hearing it.

Mt 7:24. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

James 1:23-25 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV1984)

It is indeed essential to read and hear the word of God, but doing what the Scripture says is what brings genuine change! The prophet, Samuel, told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22-24 It is helpful to study areas of education, but effective learning requires hands-on experience. As you read the word of God today, may you be determined to do what you know and to experience what you’ve heard! The most significant breakthroughs of your life will come when you…

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE!

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Encouraging Notes
WE CAN LOOK JUST LIKE HIM

Have you ever thought of the possibility that Jesus might have looked a lot like you and me? I’m fascinated by what Judas (the betrayer) told the chief priests, the Temple guard, and all those who would arrest Jesus.

Mat 26:48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”

Why did Judas need to tell them which one was Jesus? Jesus was extremely popular. Did he have features that kind of looked like everyone else so that they wouldn’t be sure? Did he look almost like a twin brother to many other faces? Was he one of those faces that everyone would say – “haven’t we met before?”

When Jesus went to the cross, I believe he had a piece of every single one of us in him, and when he died, we all died with him. Maybe in some way, shape, or form, we all look like him to a degree. The word of God says that he became poor so that we could be rich. 2Cor 8:9 He became sin so that we could be righteous. 2Cor 5:21 He was wounded for our transgressions, and he was bruised for our iniquities. Isa 53:5 He was rejected so that we could be accepted. Isa 53:3 He took our weakness and failure so that everything God is, we could become! He became fully man so that we could be fully intimate with Him! Wow! The thought so blesses me that he became flesh and took upon himself my sin and shame. Yes, He who knew no sin became sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Cor 5:21 It is as if Jesus came to look like us so that…

WE CAN LOOK JUST LIKE HIM

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Encouraging Notes
A HIGHER DIMENSION 

The closer one gets to God, the more the desire to be closer still. There is something unusual that happens for those who begin to encounter the precious presence of God! The experience of the overwhelming glory of God’s presence begs for more and inspires a person to press into a higher dimension in Him! King David intimately knew the presence of God, and here is how he explained it.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 84:2 (NIV) My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV) O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you. On my bed, I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

The greatest gift God has ever given us is the ability to experience the beauty of intimacy with him! This experience is not for a select few but everyone. Many have tasted of the reality of God are very few know what it is to explore the depths of his presence! The presence of God is the answer to the body of Christ! We have a lot of head knowledge but very little authentic experience!

I’m praying for you today. May you seize the moment and step into a world that is deeper, higher, wider, and more beautiful than you’ve ever known! May a supernatural hunger and thirst for more intimacy with God be yours! Oh yes! May this Encouraging Note inspire you to know this truth of intimacy with God!

In the name of Jesus, I declare a new passion and thirst arising within you! This is your time and season to know and experience God in…

A HIGHER DIMENSION

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Encouraging Notes
ARE YOU COUNTING?

One of the reasons why many people like mathematics are because it is exact. For instance, when you say, “a gallon of milk,” how do you know whether it is one or two drops off or, for that matter, a thousandth of a drop-off. You really don’t know because measurements like that are not exact. Two plus two doesn’t equal 4.5 or even 4.001. Two plus two equals precisely 4. When God gave his life for you through the body of Jesus Christ, he opened up a new world to you that is exact.

Romans 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The word “count” is the word in the Greek λογίζομαι, that is translated logizomai and speaks of accounting, bookwork, and mathematics. What God did for us was absolute and exact! He wants us, in a sense, to “do the math” to see how wonderful and glorious are the things he has provided for us.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Wow! God wants you to test and approve of how good and pleasing and perfect his will for your life is! Oh yes – it is much better than you have ever dreamed! God has given you his grace and has provided a way for you to live in his glory. It is absolutely vital that you do the math! It is truly crazy and amazing, far beyond words or description! As I think about you and pray for you today, I’m wondering…

ARE YOU COUNTING?

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Encouraging Notes
LOSE IT ALL

Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 As humans, we tend to do everything we can to be comfortable and live in luxury. Often we live life for what’s in it for ourselves. Our society tends to be a “me” centered society. My name is Jimmy; I’ll take all you can give me. I am often mesmerized by the way God created this universe to function because, at face value, it seems the polar opposite of how the natural mind of man thinks.

Jim Elliott made this famous quote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This is truly a profound statement! To live your very best life here on earth, you must have the mindset of sacrifice. We have all heard it – “no pain, no gain.”. Those who are willing to give up what’s comfortable or popular will be those who will experience their best life! Here are Jesus’ words.

Luke 14:26-27,33 “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters––yes, even one’s own self! ––can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.” (MSG)

Everything that God created is set up on the principle of sowing and reaping. (see Mark 4) It is the death of a seed that makes a plant with many seeds. It is the breaking down of muscle that produces more muscle. Looking at the words of Jesus in the Scripture above, you can surmise what he said by this; if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it goodbye, being a disciple of Christ is not possible.

I remember my father speaking of a son who was unwilling to give up the dollar that he had in his hand in trade for what was in his father’s hand, not knowing that there was a $100 bill in his hand. Often we hold on to the things of this world so tightly when God is trying to give us something from his hand that is far greater!

There’s nothing in this world, even including family and marriage, that is as wonderful and fulfilling as God himself and what he has to offer! As we trust God’s word, humbling ourselves to all that he has said, we will step into the life of love, victory, and power! The war of the universe is waged in the mind of man! God is longing for you to let go of all negative thoughts this world offers and wholly accept the positive truth that will unlock heaven’s freedom and prosperity!

The quickest way to honor is through humility, for, as the Scripture says, “the greatest will be the servant of all” and “before honor comes humility.” Mk 9:35, Prov 15:33 Your greatest life will be found in the act of dying to what is comfortable so that you can have new life! Are you willing to be the seed that is planted and dies so that you can bear much fruit? If you want to gain real and wonderful life, then, like a seed, and as Jesus said, you must be willing to…

LOSE IT ALL

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Encouraging Notes
ARMS OF LOVE

Doing things God’s way is always the best way! He can make you strong when you are weak and give you joy when your circumstances try to get you down! Relying on him will always take you higher!

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Psalms 25:1-5 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long

I love these precious promises from the word of God! It is an incredible gift to be able to rely upon God. Life is so much easier when we live in his rest! Probably one of my favorite scriptures in the whole Bible says, And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

God is so in love with us! You can let go of all striving; kick back and relax! When we do, we find that he is wholly reliable and faithful! Those who allow God to be their source will experience a life of joy, hope, and peace! May you trust God today! Today is your day to experience the extraordinary life of God as you let go and settle into his…

ARMS OF LOVE

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Encouraging Notes