NCarolinian

Positive reinforcement is just one awesome seed we can all sow into anybody's life. True, the young are impressionable, but the older we get the more we tend to appreciate or value this seed more. I cannot tell you when the first time someone spoke an encouraging word to me, but I can tell you how it made me feel - great. I can't tell you where and who the first instance of someone saying, "Now that's a good idea Chad, thanks for sharing." - was, but I can tell you the influence it has had on my life - like continuing to share. For the people who "water" the positive reinforcement in our lives - I say thank you. To God who nourishes and appropriately directs that positive reinforcement in my life, so that I do not get a big ego - I say, Praise You Lord. However, if it was not for the Sower to begin with, there would be no need to water or nourish. If there is no seed of any sort in anyone's life, there is no purpose for the waterer , you are jus...

There is a re-occurring part of my life that has been tricky to navigate. This unavoidable dilemma is  God promising many things about our healing through His Word for the here and now, but still retaining the right to veto His own Word with His Will  ( God's Word vs. God's Will ) .  Allow me to give some context.  A handful of times now, my church and I have prayed for individuals that needed a Miracle to conqueror their issue. In every case God did not heal them, but allowed them to suffer for a period and die. What good does that do for the suffering? What good/lesson does that do/teach for a fellow believer? What good does that do for a potential believer? None, in my book. However, this questioning does reinforce the fact that while we may not have control over the way we leave this life, we do have some control over how we live this life. As you can see, the slippery slope I keep returning to is God's Healing Process. I so desire to understand this part...

We throw the word Love around a lot in today's vernacular. The things and people that we list we love -  I love this food, that puppy, my friend, that dress, my wife/husband and so forth - are endless. However, what you are truly a lover of, in love with and/or passionate about will be shown to all through your actions.  Jesus Christ is The Lover of My Soul. How do I know? He showed me. I have the capacity to respect myself and love others because Jesus loved me first. 1 John 4:19 says this - "We love because He first loved us." Paul gets a little more descriptive than John in his letter to the believers in Rome when he said, " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) Father God, Yahweh, is passionate about humanity. He is so passionate that He sent His Word made flesh, Jesus, to die and rise again from death to redeem our fallen relationship with Him. Unfortunately, many, including...

Inheritance has nothing to do with how good you are, how bad you are or working toward gaining it.  The word heir as defined in the New Testament Greek means one who receives his/her allotted possession(s) by right of sonship/daughtership. In the Old Testament, God did not promise Israel's inheritance through a bunch of rules and regulations scholars know as The Law or The Law of Moses.  God told Abraham that the "promise that he would be heir of the world" would come "through the righteousness that comes by faith."   This instruction was given by the Holy Spirit to Paul to teach the believers in Rome. "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world,  but through the righteousness that comes by faith . For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless," - Romans 4:13-14 UNTIL Christ Jesus, all believers in Yahweh could not apprec...

I love Jesus and try to follow and emulate my Savior. However, if there is another person in the Scripture that resonates with me, that person would be Daniel. One of the huge characteristics that Daniel had which I aspire to is to be esteemed.  Because of what King Nebuchadnezzar set as his criteria for those brought out of Jerusalem in his siege of the city, we can deduce that Daniel was of the royal family or at least nobility, young and without any physical defect,  handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. ( Daniel 1:3-5 ) However, it is what the angel Gabriel proclaimed three times about him ( Dan. 9:23; 10:11; 10:19 ) that catches my attention. Daniel was esteemed by both the citizens of heaven and earth. Oh, forgive me, he was " highly esteemed" . Here is what those three verses state -  "As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell yo...

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be better believers than Gideon ( Judges 6-8 ). Although the Lord, visits him as "the angel of the Lord" and calls Gideon "mighty warrior" , Gideon meanders around with his belief in who just visited him and his charge to conqueror the Midianites.  Gideon followed through on teaching us the lesson of doing what God has told us to do with what God has given us. The Lord told Gideon He would be with him in addition to his obedience.  "The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?' 'Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied, 'but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.' ” (Judges 6:14-16) We need to capitalize on this lesson, but we also need to learn...

Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you to continue using or moving in the gifts, talents and skills God has blessed you with now.  God has told me through a recent message from the pulpit to trust Him with what He has gifted me with at this time in my life. Whether I think my contribution small, not significant enough or just-getting-by, the Lord has said in His word to me  “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much," (Luke 16:10) . Be patient and faithful in your ministry. Many times I have gotten caught-up in the fascination of another ministry, another part of the Body of Christ. I would observe the wonders of the healing ministry or prophetic ministry and pray, "Lord, will you grant me those avenues of service also?" So, far the Lord has answered in part. He has used me in both praying for healing and seeing it come about. At other times, He has given me a prophetic word for believers. However, the Lord has not grante...

Sometimes the concept of boldness can come across pushy or arrogant. This attitude or perception all stems from who or what is the source of one's boldness. If you are bold in yourself, this can only go so far. However, if you are bold because you are aided and deliver credit where due then you will go far. As a Christian, by myself, I can do some "good" things. However, with the Holy Spirit by my side I can do marvelous things. Christ said,  " Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (Matt. 14:12) Now that is a boldness builder in the right perspective! To me, Confidence is a slightly better word for boldness. How do believers acquire this confidence? Believe in the Finished Work of Christ Jesus. Trust that Jesus has fulfilled every aspect of The Law. As our High Priest, He has supernaturally experienced everything, especially the ...

In 1984 there was a song released by a singer named Rockwell called "Somebody's Watching Me" (featuring Michael Jackson). It was a very popular song then and on 80's channels now it remains so. The lyrics touch on the negative or schizophrenic side of that phrase. I desire to reveal a more positive outlook to that idea. Many times you and I play the role of the watcher. You might observe somebody singing in a car at a traffic light. You might examine how parents care for their children in a restaurant or park. You probably pay attention to the body language of others to discern if they are a threat or not. Being more aware and discerning your environment is key to being a good watcher. However,  no matter where the venue, public or private - whether in full view of others, partial view of others OR all by yourself - somebody is always watching.  This time, I am not talking about Big Brother (the government). Today I am speaking about God, God's angels and ev...

The Voice of God - many  of us have associated a god-like voice with a good baritone or smooth bass voice, compliments of the movies and t.v. (i.e. James Earl Jones and the like). However, if you were one of the individuals who lived during the time of Christ you actually got to hear the voice of God in human form. They heard the Word of God, the Logos, made flesh, speak. That which Father God uttered as words before creation, now was flesh and speaking. Wow!  Get your mind around that! In  1 Kings 19:11-13  the voice of the Lord is described as  "a still small voice"  or  "a whisper" . However,  most of the encounters with God's voice leave the recipient and the reader of God's Word quite awestruck. Still Small Voice Have you ever heard loud, powerful, shattering thunder?  Imagine hearing the wings of an army of eagles fly overhead.  Have you ever heard the crackle and sizzle of lightening as bolts attempt to find their mark...