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A Heightening of Two Emotional Sensations…

Sunday, March 1st, 2009 By 2 Comments

Walking on Water…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yX_uVQ9OKA&feature=PlayList&p=DC096646338B81CD&playnext=1&index=24

Good Sunday Morning Friends!

I pray you woke up with great hope for this day and for this current season of your lives! For me… I have way too many butterflies in my stomach… I’m not able to put this feeling into words. Is this what Peter must have felt in his heart as he climbed over the edge of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus?

And the further we walk away from the safety of the boat, the more we heighten two emotional sensations! On the one hand we feel so much EXCITEMENT and on the other we feel AFRAID of the UNKNOWN! If fear is not suppressed, its heaviness will cause us to be swallowed alive in the raging waves.

So if we wish to stay atop the stormy waters… if we want to keep on living that crazy amazing abundant life with our savior… if we want to finish as strong as we started… then we must uncage the EXCITEMENT! Let it fly! Let it tickle us into the wildest belly laugh ever! 

Stay in faith… keep walking forward… don’t look back, even for one second… you’re supposed to be right here… out on the waters with Jesus… one step of faith after another… going where no person has ever gone before… doing what no person has ever done before… unless FEAR brings you back to the boat!  

Even though this thought seems incomplete, I’m going to let it stand just like it is written. It’s a glimpse into Chuck Balsamo’s heart this morning… perhaps it will resonate with some of you!

Yes, we are having church today… Destiny Family Center 10am. If you can’t make it in person, watch it LIVE on the webcast! God bless you all!

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When Your Faith Remains Strong…

Saturday, February 21st, 2009 By 5 Comments

Good Saturday Morning Friends!

A few days ago, I posted a blog: Stop Flipping Out… Relax! Today, I want to respond to a bloggers comment as my teaching point.

In the referenced blog, I talked about turning our mountain making fears into mountain moving faith. I made a very transparent statement about how I respond to my own challenges at times, and I talked about the importance of growing up in FAITH. Here’s a quote from that blog:

“So often, I turn little problems into HUGE ones as I refuse to let God work them out. In panic, my judgment becomes clouded… I fret and fear… I allow the small problem to take my entire mind captive. Before long, I’m unable to see the good things happening in my world… I become trapped in a realm of hopelessness… I grow weary, I breakdown, and burn out.”

Blogger Des, known for his own blog as christianranter.worpress.com wrote the following reply to my above referenced post:

“Now since you said that you and your wife are opposites; is she the one who does more of the faith thing and you’re the fretter? I know that’s the case in my house and it drives me nuts as she always ends up being right about stuff I worry about.”

Ok, here is my reply to Des’ question…  

Des, I used to be so much stronger in the faith realm… I was fearless in the face of opposition… and over the past few years, I’ve weakened in my mountain moving skills. This is one BIG thing I am working on for this season of my life.

Emily has one of the most UNSHAKABLE FAITHS I’ve ever encountered! Emily lives everyday like a bulldog on a juicy stake! She NEVER waivers from a promise of God… she believes that EVERYTHING will work out… and she HELPS to keep me doing the same!

It really is amazing how God puts people together for synergistic purposes! The two of us equal far more than the sum total of our two individual components! As for me, I am aiming to REBUILD my FAITH and get back to WALKING IN THE MIRACULOUS once again.

Through the relentless pounding of the crashing waves of this stormy half decade, I have become far too circumstance oriented… been tossed around way more than I should have allowed. Instead of CALMING my storms and COMMANDING my mountains to MOVE, I have spent far too many days crying, “Why me?”

Just realizing this sets me on a new path of opportunity! I celebrate ENDURANCE and I praise God for keeping me alive in the fiery furnace! I’ve learned so many priceless lessons… and I am coming forth as GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE!

1 Peter 1:7 says this, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

Wooohoooo!! This is a mighty ENCOURAGING BLOG TODAY! Hope you love it… pray that it ADDS great value to your amazing lives! See you tomorrow in person @ 10am- Destiny Family Center… tomorrow is SUNDAY!!

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Stop Flipping Out… Relax!

Thursday, February 19th, 2009 By 5 Comments

calm-downGood Morning Bloggers!

Last night… a bunch of church friends gave Emily a beautiful birthday party!! It was a blast… the birthday cheer was amazing… the cake was AMAZING! I prayed earlier that God would do something really nice today for every party guest! So brace yourselves… its coming!

I woke this morning… in the same vein of revelation I was in all day yesterday. For some reason, I’m inspired to talk again about turning our problems over to God. This is such a challenge for most of us… it is for me. So often, I turn little problems into HUGE ones as I refuse to let God work them out. In panic, my judgment becomes clouded… I fret and fear… I allow the small problem to take my entire mind captive. Before long, I’m unable to see the good things happening in my world… I become trapped in a realm of hopelessness… I grow weary, I breakdown, and burn out.

If we want to experience more peace, and more happy outcomes in our lives… we’re going to have to change the way we RESPOND to stressful situations. As soon as we notice ourselves heading down this destructive path, we should seize control of our emotional state… and STAND UP IN A SPIRIT OF FAITH.

This is not easy at first… but well worth the effort. The only option is to live the rest of our lives tossed to and fro with every wind and wave that comes our way! To live in fear is to live in the slavery of what MIGHT go wrong. And the more we submit to fear, the better we become at pointing out destructive possibilities. We have been training ourselves to find every possible opportunity for failure… we welcome destruction because it’s what we think about most of the time. Whatever we focus on and monitor often GROWS VERY BIG!

So today… we must stop doing this to ourselves! We must RISE IN FAITH… RISE IN LOVE… RISE IN THE BOND OF RELATIONSHIP we have with our Heavenly Father. We must train our minds to point out the possibilities for success… in EVERY SITUATION! When problems arise… call them opportunities for PROGRESS! Refuse to come under the darkness of FEAR. Be confident, not in your human strength or your clever alliances… but in the fact that you belong to God Almighty!

Psalm 33:13-22

 13 The Lord looks down from heaven
      and sees the whole human race.
 14 From his throne he observes
      all who live on the earth.
 15 He made their hearts,
      so he understands everything they do.
 16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
      nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
 17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
      for all its strength, it cannot save you.

 18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
      those who rely on his unfailing love.
 19 He rescues them from death
      and keeps them alive in times of famine. 

 20 We put our hope in the Lord.
      He is our help and our shield.
 21 In him our hearts rejoice,
      for we trust in his holy name.
 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
      for our hope is in you alone.

Ok… that’s it for today… hope this blog adds great value to your amazing lives! Chat later…

 

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Financial Faith :)

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 By 6 Comments

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It’s A SNOW Day Friends!

Wake up everyone… build a snow man, go sleigh riding, have a snow ball fight, make snow angles, drink hot chocolate… hurry up before its gone!

Sorry I’m a bit late with this morning’s blog. After my reading/prayer routine, I checked my Facebook and stumbled upon the nephew of my Moms old boss… the guy who gave me my first job when I was 8 years old! Her old boss passed away many years ago, after showing tremendous kindness to my family throughout Moms employment with him. I have often prayed for his family… this was a very exciting moment for me. Who knows where it will go!

Today… I feel compelled to write briefly on the subject of financial faith. It seems that people everywhere are really beginning to flip out of their minds over the weakening condition of our economy… and FEAR is griping the hearts of good people! So, this morning I decided to let God do most of the talking… He has so much to say on the topic of money and possessions. And when we get a solid revelation about how much he loves us and desires to care FOR us… everything changes!

Fear brings on destruction… Faith moves MOUNTAINS! Meditate on the following words spoken from Gods mouth… and see what happens! Pay special attention to the parts I’ve highlighted for you… and FEEL THE CONFIDENCE RISE WITHIN YOUR HEART!

Luke 12:22-34…

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 

For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 

Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 

And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

 ”So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Good stuff aye? Now, read these verses 7 times throughout the day and pay attention to what happens with your emotional state of mind. Each and every time, FAITH will build… and FEAR will no longer be an issue for you good people! Have a super day… chat with you all later on…

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Don’t Be A Scare D Cat

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 By 1 Comment

Happy Tuesday Morning Friends,

Since Psalm is so long, I’m reading in four sections. Here’s my gift to you guys from Psalms 27.

 ”The Lord is my light and my salvation—
      so why should I be afraid?
 The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
      so why should I tremble?
 When evil people come to devour me,
      when my enemies and foes attack me,
      they will stumble and fall.
 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
      my heart will not be afraid.
 Even if I am attacked,
      I will remain confident.”

Confidence is a very powerful force… depending of course on who or what we place that confidence in. For the guy who wrote this Psalm, there is no question about where he placed his confidence. He says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation… SO WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID?” 

Fear is a very dangerous force. It opens the door for destruction. Job, the man who lost his houses, his entire farming business, and all his children… this is what Job said while assessing his damages, “The thing I feared HAS COME UPON ME.” 

Whether we know it or not, so much of what happens in our lives is determined as a result of these two opposing forces: Faith and Fear. If we live in the constant dread of ”whats going to attack me next” or “when it rains it pours,” we leave the doors to destruction wide open… and all kinds of crazy things happen to us all day long. But, when we wake up everyday with the CONFIDENCE that God is looking out for us, most of the battle is already over… we win just because we believe that we are GAURUNTEED winners!

Put up a shield of faith similar to the one described in Psalms 27… and watch what happens when you start believing as if you are invincible!

I just finished praying for you guys… have another amazing day… see you tomorrow!

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