Category: Inspirational Quotes
Hard times – Unwavering Faith
If my belief and trust in the character of God changes in bad times, how does that affect the effectiveness of my faith in the good times? It is in the hard times of life where we have to hold on like never before to who God says he is. He is all-knowing, He is present everywhere at the same time, He has all power and can do anything at anytime. His Love never fails, He is good all the time. He never lies. He is a God of His word. The stripes that Jesus took on His back at Calvary are for our healing. We are paid with a price and have full access to EVERYTHING that has been granted to me as a daughter of the king. There is nothing impossible for our God! Hold onto this with everything you have if you can’t do it on your own ask for us to stand with you. You’re not alone!
Lead with the heart of a Servant, Serve with the heart of the King
This is my hearts cry this for myself and also to teach my children.
This quote has been in my heart early this morning. I tried to find the right pictures to display its meaning. “LEAD WITH THE HEART OF A SERVANT, SERVE WITH THE HEART OF THE KING.”
This was all sparked today as I read the news report about Michelle Obama being offended that somebody in Target would ask her to hand them something on the top shelf. She was insulted, BUT if she had the heart of a servant she would’ve counted it as an honor.
http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/12/18/unbelievable-michelle-obamas-target-story-has-nothing-to-do-with-race-and-she-knows-it/
Michelle Obama made the absolute most arrogant and selfish comment that any First Lady has ever uttered.
“I tell this story – I mean, even as the first lady – during that wonderfully publicized trip I took to Target, not highly disguised, the only person who came up to me in the store was a woman who asked me to help her take something off a shelf. Because she didn’t see me as the first lady, she saw me as someone who could help her. Those kinds of things happen in life. So it isn’t anything new.” – Michelle Obama to People Magazine
This statement is a complete disgrace and embarrassment to any American. This is not the kind of leadership quality, let alone character quality I want my children to follow. My fellow Americans, please raise the bar!
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Know Your Worth!
“Know “Who” you are and “Whose” you are, so when people come to you offering “Less” than you are worth, you know how to identify it and “Stand Up” for yourself!” – Rachelle Layzell
FREEDOM from Heaviness
Ever since last night I had been carrying a heavy spirit. Our family went to an indoor skatepark in NE Portland and that afternoon there were some rough guys downstairs blasting some nasty music as they were shredding on their bikes. I came home and couldn’t shake the heaviness, but to tell you the truth I wasn’t trying very hard.
This morning the kids and I were not the most joyful peaceful people. I knew I had to shake this off before any ladies came to the our connect group this morning at the church office. I was going to go pray but was drawn to the piano in the back room. I haven’t played the piano in years but something inside of me was crying out to connect with God in a deep way. I began to play a few worship songs that I had learned over 20 years ago, which was sweet but I was stumbling more than I was feeling my connection to God. I stopped and went to see if anyone had arrived yet and since no one had, God told me to go back to the piano. I began playing a simple melody and put words to it which were a cry of my heart for the Lord to restore the joy of my salvation. As I did the Holy Spirit came so tenderly and washed away the heaviness that was on my heart. Pretty soon a beautiful song began to be played.
The Lord is so faithful and wants to set us free, he does not desire us to walk around this life under attack in anyway. We can live a joyful and free life IF we ask him to come and set us free. We have a choice every day to remain overwhelmed by our burdens or give them to God, seek his face and learn to walk in his freedom.
I’ve heard the definition of insanity is doing the same thing every day and expecting different results. At times we hold onto the attacks/burdens/strongholds in our life because they bring a sense of familiarity and comfort. With them we feel justified in our emotions and lack of the fruit of the spirit being displayed in our life. WHAT A LOAD OF CRUD!! That justification is a demonic plot of the enemy to keep you/me from being free!! In Revelations it says, “we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY.
Today the word of my testimony came out in a song I sang and played to the Lord. It was an intimate and precious moment transforming my spirit in an instant. Please recognize when you are in this place and seek the Face of the only one who can bring freedom! #youareblessed #LiveLifeOutLoudForGod
Expectations are a killer- But its doesn’t have to effect you
Just a little wisdom from someone who has dealt with expectations from others.
Expectations lead to your finger pointed at others when they do not behave the way we expect and want. We can not control other people’s thoughts, feelings or actions but we can control OURS! Love and unity is a choice that we give to others despite if our expectations have been met or not. Do not let the enemy rob you of pure love in your relationships! It is something we have to walk out daily. It is not easy, but it is worth it! – Rachelle Layzell
This is what I want to see!
I want to see a people of God who are just as passionate about getting into the meat of the word of God and applying His principles to our lives, as they are jumping into the river of God. Otherwise, we could swim into the wrong river. We need feet firmly planted on the word of God while we play in the river!! It is imperative we do not disregard one truth for another!
The Mind of Christ: thinking about “Thinking”
I have been doing a lot of thinking about “thinking”. Our thoughts have a massive amount of influence on our day. No matter what the situation that may arise-our thoughts will determine our emotions and actions. We need to understand what it means to “Have the Mind of Christ” BUT, what is the mind of Christ? Check out the picture below Phil 4:8
We also need to know how to “Take Every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ”.
But what does that mean?
It means 1st of all Repentance– for wrong thinking, for specific things we are focusing on that are not in Phil 4:8, for thoughts that contradict the nature of God and His commandments. When we constantly live with those thoughts and never repent for them, we allow the strongholds that attach themselves to those thoughts to have Legal Access to our spirit. I don’t know about you, but I do not want the enemy to have any legal access to my mind, heart or spirit. We have the authority to stop the enemies access, through our repentance with humility and sincerity.
After repenting for wrong thinking, you need to fill your mind with the good things of God. Philipians 4:8
The next step is constantly living with an attitude of thanksgiving for what God has done for us. This takes our eyes off of ourselves and present circumstances and shifts our attention to him. As we glorify and worship him He releases us from the burdens that we carry in our every day life. This is a true way to walk in joy, freedom and hope.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Here are a couple articles that offer more teaching on “The Mind of Christ”
http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=live_with_the_mind_of_christ
http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/7041-living-the-truth-have-the-mind-of-christ
How to Receive Freedom by Giving Up
Sometimes we hold on to a stronghold or sin in our life and justify it by saying that it is for someone else’s good. For example, if we hold envy/hatred/jealousy towards someone because, in our mind, they are hurting someone we love. That stronghold then takes root in our life and opens wide the door of our spirit to the enemy and we come into agreement and can then release Anger/Hatred/Strife ect. into other areas of our life or our family.
Parents you have a direct influence over your kids and the atmosphere of your home. If we are not walking in purity and freedom it opens our homes up to strife/anger ect. You are the head of your household. The buck stops here!! We can easily get on our kids case for their attitudes, but sometimes we need to check ours out FIRST. (preaching to myself!!!)
Time to seriously take ourselves before God and repent and renounce the strongholds/sins and receive his forgiveness, righteousness, peace and love. Freedom is possible only after we are willing to humble ourselves before Him, admit our sin, Believe He has the power and authority to forgive us because of the cross and Receive His forgiveness and freedom!
The steps to your freedom require two important things. First of all, you need to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for the strongholds you have allowed to come into your life and the sins that you have committed. Along with that comes the need to renounce, or break off all ties to those strongholds . That is simply stating each of them and declaring that you renounce and break off ties and attachments to those things.
This is just the first step, getting things right between you and God.
However, it does not end there.
If those sins have been towards someone else, even if it is only in your mind or by actions or words then you need to go to them and ask forgiveness for it. This might be a no-brainer, but it is far too easy to skip this step because of the vulnerability you feel towards that person. You may fear they will not receive you, or that they will throw it in your face. But, what is taking place in your spirit is far more important than the resistance you may feel. Bitterness, envy, jealousy, hatred, are all easy strongholds we allow into our life. They sneak up on us especially when we do not realize we are willingly coming into agreement with the sin we are carrying. When we justify our sin, or make excuses for it because we think there is a good reason, we are at the same time holding the power of its influence around us.
Today I can testify that I have just completed the second step above in regards to a situation that I have been going through.
Last night I repented and renounced what I was going through to God, but it does not end there. I had been holding resentment, envy, jealousy and anger towards someone and had to find them today and ask forgiveness face-to-face.
I can’t tell you the joy and especially peace that I have felt all afternoon. My humility, obedience and open heart paved the way for complete restoration between me and the other party and took away the strife and contention in my heart. Now I am waiting to see this peace continue even after my kids get home from school. This is a house where the Prince of Peace reigns!
Bring on the freedom and joy!
Time to Give Up and give it to God!
Live Life Out Loud For God 