WHO PACKED YOUR BAGS?

I often travel on airplanes. Each time I approach the ticket counter, I am asked about my bags. They ask  these questions:

© Rozen | Stock Free Images
& Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Is there anything hazardous?
• Is there anything perishable?
• Is there anything potentially dangerous?

The final questions are the most important.

DID YOU PACK YOUR OWN BAGS AND HAVE THE BAGS BEEN IN YOUR POSSESSION THE ENTIRE TIME?

These are the questions I pose to you. Who have you allowed to pack your bags in this flight through life and why are you carrying weapons of mass destruction?  We often fly through life carrying potentially dangerous and hazardous material that we have allowed others to impose on us. Many of our thoughts and ideas are not really ours. We have given permission to someone else to tell us what we think and how we are to live. One of the primary culprits of the baggage sabotage is the media. The media is the manipulator of the madness that causes us to become a self-imposed terrorist. With the invention of the internet and social media, we have handed over the keys to our minds. 

Please understand that an open mind is not synonymous with an unguarded mind. We must guard our heart and our mind at all times, for out of our hearts flows the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). We must be careful what we watch and what we allow to make its way into our thought patterns. It is amazing how things that we never considered before have now become questioned, solely because they are socially accepted. Through the barrage of input, one lowers or raises one's values. We must be very careful as to whom we allow to speak into our lives. We are warned in Scripture that in the last days man will call right wrong and wrong right. Man will also call good evil and evil good. Man will pervert truth to appease his own human desires. I challenge you to raise the standards and attempt to live on a higher plane or morality. Each of us must screen our thoughts, not through the grid of this perverted society, but through the Word of God. Don't let some man (me included), church, political party, culture, or any such thing determine truth for you. Let the God of Heaven declare His Word into your life. Jesus is Truth and the Truth shall set you free. 

Final question. What I believe -- does it or does it not align with the Word of God? His Word is our final authority.

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe

YOU REALLY DO HAVE *THE* MEASURE OF FAITH

(Sorry for the long absence.  I have had computer problems, but I am now back and back with a vengeance!)

I want this post to encourage and resurrect your faith. If you think you have been going through a test and it seems like God is not speaking to you, remember that the teacher is always quiet while the student is testing.

© Lyudmila_b | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos

The faith of God is always strong and consistent. It is our human faith with which we struggle . God has given to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).  It is not "a" measure of faith, but "the" measure. God had given to everyone the exact same prescribed measure. He leaves it up to us as to how much we will exercise this awesome gift.  The faith that God has given, is the God kind of faith. Mark 11:22 tells us to have the God kind of faith.  Faith is a seed and and seed produces after its kind (Genesis1:11-12). So when it is the God kind of faith, then we can reap a God kind of harvest.  Remember, He is the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38). It it His faith that He has invested in us that will move mountains, cancel satanic attacks, raise the dead, and cast out devils. We will not threaten the kingdom of darkness by what we think nor by what we say out of our mouths just because we said it. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and standing upon the unshakable Word that will vanquish enemies and send demons to flight. Jesus is the Light and faith is the switch which will dispel darkness and fear, but we must flip the switch by trusting Him.

Someone said to me the other day, "Bishop, this faith thing is so hard."  My response was, "It sure is when we are trying to do it; it must be done in Christ."  Remember, it is not your faith, but His. It is only when we internalize His faith does it truly become our faith.  Jesus said that according to your faith, be it unto you. There is a grave difference between our faith (human and carnal) and His faith (spiritual and eternal).  Here is the answer: quit wrestling with your problems, situations, or dilemmas outside of Christ. For without Him, we can do nothing. We have to quit attempting to coerce God into supporting our program and start finding out what He is doing and fit into His agenda! If we will follow Him, we will always get to where He is going. We will get there right on time, right destination, and meet our divine appointment.

T: Turn over all your problems to Him.
R: Rest in His ability to carry you through.
U: Use the Word of God as your only defence.
S: Stand firmly on His promise, no matter what it looks like.
T: Tell everyone about the goodness of God.

I believe great days are ahead!

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe

YOU ARE POWERFULLY GIFTED

You are powerfully gifted and so much talent lies beneath your surface of fear and intimidation. You are an awesome individual with a story to tell that can transform your world. Every person can turn his or her circumstances around with the correct guidance, instruction, and obedience. I want speak into your life and tell you that you are not hopeless, worthless, or a failure. You are just a few steps or decisions away from your breakthrough. What are those steps?

1. Forgive yourself and others.
2. Let go of unnecessary baggage.
3. Place yourself in an environment of growth.
4. Make necessary physical changes which will aid in your success.
5. Trust God and believe that His direction will get you to your destination.
6. Realize that your worth, value, and gifts lie in Christ.

God has placed within our chest a beating heart with great dreams and aspirations. We have allowed people or society to choke those dreams, but you need to know that those dreams are still there. You still have great dreams that can no longer be nightmares. These night terrors must be brought into the light of God's presence and into divine reality.

© Fotofactory313 | Stock Free Images
&Dreamstime Stock Photos  

Every man's gift develops differently, but all gifts from God will lead both us and others to quality places. Gifts are beneficial to the well-being of everyone around. When I speak of gifts, I am not talking about mystical or deep spiritual things. Many of our gifts are regular everyday things and activities, but you are exceptional at it. Let me name a few to give you an idea of what I am talking about:

• Encouragement
• Laughter
• Hospitality
• Service
• Administrating
• Giving (Time and Talent)
• Listening
• Teaching and Training
• Speaking 
• Cooking

We must find our niche and develop a place where we can shine -- not for personal recognition, but for the preservation of those in need. Each one possesses something that can benefit humanity and make this a better place to live.

Here is a great little thought, author unknown:

"Your task is to build a better world," God said.

I answered, "How?  This world is such a large and complicated place. I'm so small and there's nothing I can do."

But God said in all His infinite wisdom, "Just build a better you."

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe

Memorial Day

It is so sad and very unfortunate that we have reduced Memorial Day to just a time to have another three-day weekend. One person said, "Memorial Day is a day to BBQ, picnic, and take the boat out on the lake." We have neglected to teach our children about patriotism, honor, sacrifice, and the high price of freedom. The freedoms that we enjoy did not come without a price.  Men and women of courage died for this moment.

© Mlpotma | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos

From the website, "How to Observe Memorial Day":

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be -- a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given their lives for ours.


Here are some ways to honor and observe Memorial Day:

• by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
• by visiting memorials.
• by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
• by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
• by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
• by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans. 

May 

we find ourselves quiet, humble, and grateful as we reflect on the millions of lives lost so we could picnic,  BBQ, and play on the lake. Oh, that we could be forever in debt to all who loved America so we could see Old Faithful fly and hear freedom ring.

WE SAY "THANK YOU" TO THE MEN AND WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN WHO MADE AN INVESTMENT BY THE SACRIFICES OF THEIR OR THEIR LOVED ONES' LIVES. WE SHALL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL.

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

DON'T FEAR THE FLAT-LINE

Life is most fascinating when we understand its purpose. Life is nothing that we create or attain; it is truly a gift from God. God gives us life and we mostly determine its quality and often its quantity.When life comes to us as a gift, it is full of God's power. The potential life has within its borders hope, peace, fullness, future, and success. When we realize that life is from a loving and generous God, we then desire to live life to its fullest. Life should be enjoyed, not endured.

In this present life (the natural) we have ups and downs, mountains and valleys, triumphs and tragedies. Unfortunately, we compare one day to another and we determine whether this is a good day or bad day. If the truth be known, we cannot say what a good day or a bad day is until we have evaluated all the days. Let me propose to you, my reader, something to consider. I want you to imagine an EKG monitor. As it is recording your heart's activity, you will notice the peaks and the valleys. We call that a representation of life. As long as we can see high points and low points, we feel we are fine. Once that machine shows a long flat line, we call that death.  But is it really death or is it the passage way to a new destination?

Now when we understand real life (the spiritual), the flat line represents consistency. Life around us still happens. Life is full of deaths and births, marriage and divorce, buying a new home and being foreclosed, luxurious cruises and broken down cars. But those that have flat-lined in Christ are consistent in their faith. When their faith is challenged, they trust in God. When seemingly nothing goes right, they trust in God. When there is an abundance, they praise God for His goodness. When there is an apparent lack, they praise God for His goodness. David the Psalmist writes, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord." It is when we flat-line in Christ, that life becomes peaceful. A dead man does not fear tomorrow. A dead man is not offended as to what people do or say. The flat-liner says, as Apostle Paul has said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," and "The life which I NOW live..., I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." The dead man is no longer shaken, but has become the shaker.

Jesus warned us that in this life we shall have hard times and tribulations. Yet He said to be of good cheer because He had overcome and so, we too shall overcome. My friend, life happens. Let life do its thing and allow God to do His.  We also must learn to do God's thing! May we not allow the circumstances to dictate our path and our journey through this life. This life is merely a temporary detour to our eternal home!

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe


Photo from:  © Nicemonkey | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos

YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE

You are truly an incredible piece of work. You are marvelous and have been fashioned by the hands of a loving Creator. You have been preordained for greatness. Everything that has happened in your life serves a purpose. True purpose is beyond human understanding and comprehension. Man spend fruitless hours making plans and attempting to figure out tomorrow. Humans are not to make plans, but we are to fulfill purpose. God has the plan. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans that He has for us. All of His plans will give you hope and will give you a prosperous future. These plans will be unfolded as we get closer and closer to Him. I want to encourage you that the mess you think you have made is not beyond repair. Satan would love for you to believe his lie that you are a failure and you are worthless. But you are not a failure; you are a miracle in the making. Success is yours by divine nature and divine birthright.

Let's take a look at failure and success.

Failure and success are opposite sides of the same coin, yet the value has not changed. 

What am I saying? Failure does not mean you messed up or did not succeed. It reveals to you things you did not know before. There is value in every failure.  Every successful person has failed time after time. Here are some quotes by successful and famous people:

 “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”          – Michael Jordan

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."  – Roger Bannister 

"The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur."     – Vince Lombardi 

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." – Babe Ruth

SEVEN REASONS WHY WE FAIL
AND SEVEN REASONS WHY WE SUCCEED

Failure

1.     Focusing on the failures of the past.

2.     Not really fearing failure, but success.

3.     Fearing rejection or feeling inadequate.

4.     The pain of disappointment overrides the joy of success.

5.     Failure is easier to achieve -- not much work, lower
      expectations.

     6.  Not being confident that there will be a favorable outcome.

     7.   Accepting failure before the attempt.

Success

    1.      Focusing on past successes. 

    2.     Success comes with a powerful sense of expectation.

    3.     Looking forward to the sense of accomplishment and the joy
          of approval.

    4.     Recognizing who are designed to be.  

    5.     Understanding that this present success is the next step to
          greater successes.

    6.     Success is the only option.

    7.     Looking forward to modeling success to others.

YOU CAN TURN YOUR IMPOSSIBILITIES INTO POSSIBILITIES!

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe


Click here for image source.

POSITIONED TO PROSPER PROPERLY

I have asked God to bless your mind as you read this blog and receive His Word.  In order to walk in the prosperity and the blessings of God, we need a paradigm shift.  We MUST believe that it is the will of God to have His blessings overtake us.  There is  a cry from God for our submission and obedience, so that we, with the continued blessing of God, can tell the story of His goodness.


You and I were created to prosper and to succeed. That was God's original design and plan for man. From the very beginning, God invested Himself into His creation.   He is a prosperous God and only life emanates from Him.  When we understand who God really is, then, and only then, will we learn to live in our designated position.


True prosperity is not found in  the acquisition of things, nor the accumulation money.  Money will never make one rich; houses and land will not make one prosperous; cars and material things will not cause us to be successful.  All those things are the fallout of hard work, good choices, wise investments, gifts, or inheritances.  True success is a state of mind. The truly successful and prosperous person is one who has learned contentment in whatever God brings his way. 


Let me give you a few pointers that will help you become prosperous and successful:

• Live in the acknowledgement that it is God who gives us power to get wealth.  (Deuteronomy 8:18)

• Understand that money is only seed and we need to learn how to sow, where to sow, and what to sow.  All seed produces of its kind.  A small measure of seed produces a small harvest; a huge measure of seed, a huge harvest.

• That which you have received as a blessing (spouse, children, job, church, pastor, etc.) NEVER comes with sorrow.  Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessings of the Lord bringeth forth wealth and He adds with it no sorrow."

• Wherever we house the presence of God will be blessed.  Read the story (1 Chronicles 13:14) of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of God remained with Obed-Edom for three months and the Lord blessed his household and everything he owned during that time.

• Joshua 1:8 tells us that through meditating on the Word of God, we shall make our way prosperous and shall have good success.

• When Isaac was meditating in the field (Genesis 24:63), he lifted his eyes, saw, and said, "Behold, the camels are coming!"  He saw his prosperity coming before it showed up and while he was in the presence of the Lord.

I encourage you to raise your expectations.  Do not be trapped by what the world or this economy is trying to dictate to you.  The God of creation has already decided your future. He says that His plans for you are good -- to give you a hope and to give you a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Your miracle is ready and waiting.


Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe


Image is from here.

PRACTICE BEING KIND

We live is such a harsh society. So many people are so uptight and seemingly will go off at any moment. I try not to listen to the news as it is so depressing. They recite and regurgitate one tragedy after another.  Paranoia has so many paralyzed by fear and hopelessness. 


We should live in such a way that others love to be around us. I was walking into the post office in our town and a lady with an arm load of packages was also trying to enter.  She could barely see her way. A young man cut in front of her and did not even hold the door open. A man commented, "Stupid kid." I replied, "No, poor parenting."

In this blog, I want to encourage you to turn the tides in your sphere of influence. You become the sunshine in someone's rainy day. You become the marshmallow in someone's hot chocolate or the cotton candy in someone's pity-party.  On every life you touch, you should  leave an indelible fingerprint of peace and happiness.  It really is not that difficult to be kind and respectful. We should be life-givers, encouragers, motivators and, most of all, examples of Jesus in real life.

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

The word "exhort" comes from the Greek word, parakaleo.

Para:  alongside

Kaleo:  to call, to invite, to speak, or to beckon

When these two words are connected, they paint a picture of someone who comes closely alongside of another person for the sake of speaking to him, consoling him, comforting him, or assisting him with instruction, counsel, or advice.

I am convinced that we can change our world with one smile at a time, a kind word,  and words of appreciation. Let's get back to old-fashioned courtesy, thankfulness, and gratitude. I am convinced that chivalry is not dead, just misplaced. If we were not so absorbed with ourselves, we would have time to consider others.  Just try saying thank you, you're welcome, please, excuse me, I'm sorry and, most of all, I love you and I forgive you.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to be a major source of blessing to people in my life! Help me to quit being so absorbed and fixated on myself and instead see how I can become strength and encouragement to others who are around me. Your Word commands me to be involved in giving daily encouragement. Since I am seriously committed to obeying Your Word, I intend, with Your help, to find a way to encourage someone who needs strength every day!

I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe


Image from stockfreeimages here.

WHY DID JESUS FOLD HIS NAPKIN?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and Idon't know where they have put him!" Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant - and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating.  The servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now, when the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would then wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant "I'm done."

But if the master got up from the table, folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.......... the folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Have a victorious Resurrection Day!

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

Photo from: stockfreeimages.

Does God Have A Sense of Humor?

Guest post by Daja Abdelaziz Gombojav

St. Louis, MO 1956

A lady named Rosa Parks by one simple act began a movement.  She sparked an entire culture to sit up and ponder civil rights. 

St. Louis, MO 2000

The Ku Klux Klan won the right in court to be an organization to have their name on a highway sign, as the ones who keep that one-mile strip clean and beautiful. (Such as you often see Boy Scouts, churches or businesses doing.)

St. Louis, MO 2000

The State decides to celebrate the civil rights movement by naming a one-mile stretch of Highway 55 after Rosa Parks.  Guess which stretch is chosen?

Yes, I think God has a sense of humor.  KKK members now, once a month, can be seen cleaning the roadside of the Rosa Park Highway.  I’m reeling from the irony.  I think God is smiling.  It seems poetic justice.

There was a man in the Bible who, like the Klan members, thought he was superior.  His name was Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon.  You can find the story in Daniel 4.  He was an arrogant man.  He did not acknowledge God, nor worship Him.  In the height of his career as supreme leader, he had a dream.  It made him afraid.  Not one of his magicians or seers could tell him the interpretation.  Therefore, Daniel, who the Bible tells us was excellent in spirit, was called on.  And sure enough Daniel’s interpretation was true, because the dream soon came to pass. 

One day, King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his castle (Daniel 4:29) and he had a “revelation” about how wonderful he was.  “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by MY mighty power and for the GLORY of MY majesty?”  (Daniel 4:30)  He did not acknowledge God in his accomplishments.  The Bible says that while these words were still on his lips, a voice from heaven came telling him his fate.  And immediately, he became as a wild beast.  For seven years he ate the grass of the fields, his hair grew like feathers, and his nails like that of a bird.  He was no longer a highly exalted king, he was a despised madman.


However, the Bible says that when he lifted his eyes toward heaven, his sanity was restored.  He was able, to not only return to his place of authority, but also became greater than he was before.  “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just.” Daniel 4:37a


The irony is unspeakable!  Poetic justice?

And to the Rosa Park highway cleaners, Nebuchadnezzar finishes his speech my saying, “And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37b

--Daja Abdelaziz Gombojav


Daja is the daughter of Bishop Gabe and blogs at The Provision Room and at in other words....


Photo used by permission.

B + A = F (THE EQUATION FOR YOUR BREAKTHROUGH)

As we are attempting to forge through this journey called life, it seems as though we are perplexed on every side. Gas prices sky-rocketing, housing market plummeting, foreclosures, and job losses. It is amazing, but not surprising that suicides are up, alcoholism is rising, drug use is increasing, and people are getting lost in internet addiction. These times are leaving many with a sense of hopelessness and desperation. We attempt to think positive thoughts, we read volumes of self-help books, we meditate, self-medicate, motivate and exacerbate. Nothing seems to work. We go to churches and the easy believe-ism is not numbing the pain. We spend time doing good works, we join social clubs and gyms, yet nothing quite turns the tide. Yes, there is a solution to all this madness. 


The solution is called Faith. Not religious faith that demands us to jump through countless futile hoops, but a relational faith that connects us with the God of creation. It is a faith that can see the crisis of our day as an opportunity for Christ to shine. It is a faith that does not just believe but that pushes us to action. It is not enough that we claim we believe in God. The Bible tells us that the Devil believes in God and that he fears and trembles at the Name of Jesus.  So, it definitely takes more than just belief.  If our belief system is not tied to obedience and action, then all we have is belief, we cannot operate in faith, and cannot see our breakthrough.


Pseudo-faith (fake faith) is attached to emotions.  Real faith is attached to motion. Where faith is not attached to motion, it is called fear. Miracles are never birthed in the womb of fear.


 B + A = F.   Belief + Action = Faith.  Faith is the visible evidence as to what we believe. When faith is released, miracles will increase. When faith decreases, miracles will cease.  So when we are faced with our current situation, we must ask ourselves a few questions.

1. Is this an obstacle or an opportunity?
2. Am I going to react or respond?
3. Am I going to get out of the boat of fear or fellowship (fellows in the ship) with the rest of the losers?
4. Am I going to act upon my belief system or starve believing that things are going to get better?
5. Am I going to quit trusting in the government, people, and my job; or am I going to trust in a loving God?

Real faith is progressive, assertive, productive, and responsive. Real faith will get us off the couch of indifference and give us hope and bring back the sparkle and twinkle in our eyes. 

Dead Sea

The country of Israel gives us a great illustration of active and inactive faith through its two major bodies of water:

1. The Sea of Galilee beams with life.  Israel gets it fish from the Sea of Galilee. 

2. The Dead Sea has no life at all. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.

Here is the difference:

The Sea of Galilee has an inlet and outlet, so there is major movement. The water is flowing and fish are birthing.  The Dead Sea has no outlet. The water cannot flow out, so there is no movement. Stagnation brings about death. Where there is no movement, there is death. 

If we quit just talking about what we believe and start walking out what we believe, it will open up to us a plethora of opportunities and breakthroughs. Your miracle is as close as your movement.


Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe

BY THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH

You are a walking miracle of power and potential. Miracles surface when man 
comes to the end of himself. When we have no answers or solutions, when doctors have done all they could do, when money is all depleted, we turn to the only one who can help us -- God.   


When we open our mouths and our heart to pray, we release faith. It is our words and faith which creates the miraculous  When we learn to pray 411 prayers (garnering information), we won't have to pray 911 prayers (emergencies). When we open our mouths to pray we enter into the the boardroom with the master of the universe and we hear what He speaks. He always speaks faith.


The word miracle can be divided into two parts. "Mir" which means to see or to watch. "Mir" is the root word for mirror. Mirar in the Spanish language means "to see." The second part of the word miracle is "acle" which is derived from "oracle," which means to speak. The true miracle is in our mouths. We need to understand mir-oracle. If we could learn the power of our words and learn to see what we speak. We were born to prophesy. Prophesy your miracle into existence .

God’s Word is conceived in your heart, believed in your brain, formed by your tongue, spoken by your mouth, and becomes a spiritual force releasing you in the abilities of God.

· The person who says, "I can" and the person who says, "I can’t" are both right.

· The words that you speak will either put you over or keep you under.

· Words are seeds that creates a harvest. Seeds produce after their kind.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. You possess the ability to turn your situation around by a paradigm shift. If you change what you say, you will change what you do.

I challenge each of my readers to not see their situation as dismal and pathetic, but as an opportunity to excel and conquer. Your future is truly outstanding if you will not be afraid to embrace it and see it for what it is. Your miracle is as close as your mouth.

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

THE SPOKEN WORD PIECE BY CHASE AND MELISSA

Listen to these powerful words of transformation

by

Chase and Melissa of The Revival Center, Paso Robles, CA

THERE MUST BE A PONY IN HERE SOMEWHERE!

Life which is a gift from God is always good, but often it does not appear that way. There are days, times, and seasons that seem like nothing goes right. It is amazing how things seem to spiral out of control, but do they really or is it just our perception while we're are in the midst of the mess.  We must learn to look for the best in every situation. Sometimes we wonder where is God in all this. We spend so much time asking God "why" and we should be asking "what". What do I need to learn from this situation? What do I really need to hear and understand? "Why" questions God's authority, whereas "what" is asking God for revelation. "What" is asking God to reveal Himself in my time of crisis.

Image found here.

I read a story about identical twin boys. One was an extreme pessimist and the other an extreme optimist. It was Christmas time. Each boy anxiously awaited Christmas morning. Upon entering the living room, the pessimistic boy saw surrounding the tree every imaginable toy a young boy would want. There were trucks, cars, electronic games, and much more. When he saw all those toys just for him, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Is this all?"  Meanwhile, the optimistic boy went to his bedroom and there in the middle of the room was a huge box. Nothing fancy, not even Christmas-wrapped, just a big ugly cardboard box.  With great anticipation and excitement in his eyes, he got his bunk-bed ladder and placed it against the box. Frantically opening it, all he saw was the box full of horse manure.  He beamed with excitement and a smile on his face. He exclaimed to his mom and dad, "With this much manure, there has got to be a pony in here somewhere." Then he dove in head first.

Maybe it is time to dive in head first into your situation, but with a different outlook. Just maybe all this that you are going through is not for your destruction, but your instruction. I am convinced that there must be a pony in all this "crap".  Something exciting is coming your way!

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

LIFE SHOULD BE ENJOYED AND NOT JUST ENDURED

I was speaking with someone the other day and he said, "It was a bad day." My response was, "How do you evaluate a a good day from a bad day until you have examined all the days?"

Image from here.

Our present circumstances or situations are a poor barometer to gauge what is good and what is bad. When we view each day as another step in the journey of our ultimate destination, life becomes manageable. We have no need to vascilate and struggle with each step of the workings of life. We need to learn to enjoy the moment. Life should be an adventure of excitement and amazement. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we do need to be confident about Who holds tomorrow. Life is not ours to own; it is ours to enjoy. With all the twists and turns, the high and lows, the switch-backs, the stops and speeds, the bumps and dips, we might as well see this as an amusement ride through life.

The Real Life lives in us and is not about us. When we strive for inner peace, hope, and faith; when the spirit of forgiveness and grace maneuvers through our lives; we then see each moment as God planned. He really does have a plan for your life. His plan involves you having a hope and a future of peace. So much of our present crisis is based on our reaction to a problem, not our responding to an opportunity.

Today is the best day of the rest of your life. Live it to the fullest. Love it to the highest. Pursue it with a passion.

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

TIME TO GET OUT OF THE PIT

I write this post to encourage all that are under attack today. Maybe you are facing a mountain of debt, home  foreclosure, a terminal disease, a marriage relationship that has hit the skids, or maybe even something worse. You may feel like you are in a deep dark pit. Well, I want to bring light into your dark situation. For truly, there is a way out.

There is a story in the Bible about a young boy named Joseph. Joseph was the favorite son of his father which created jealousy and sibling rivalry among the rest of his sons. Joseph's eldest brother, Reuben (which means faith) put his little brother in a pit and left him to die. Later, another brother, Judah (praise) got him out of the pit. Sometimes what you believe will get you in a mess. Then often in our feeble attempt to get out of the pit, we fight, scratch, and complain and in the process, we only make our situation more intense. When we learn the art of praise, we will find that praising works. Praise will always get us out of the pit. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Realize that your miracle is in your mouth!

The pit is often a necessary place to get us to our destination. If Joseph had not been put in the pit, he would have never gained entrance to the throne of Egypt. I have been fortunate to have been in the pit at Laguna Seca Racetrack. When a car comes into the pit, in a matter of seconds his team removes all four tires and makes all necessary repairs and puts that car back into the race. Our problem in life is that we don't have a team. Without a team, the pit makes us pitiful and we succumb to hopelessness and failure.

I want to encourage you to get yourself a Judah team and allow them to help you get out of the pit. Remember, praise will always get you out. Life will get better, especially if you expect it and believe it.


Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

THAT'S THE PAINT TALKING

Years ago I bought a dresser from a yard sale. It was old, battered, and quite rugged looking. Drawers were off their tracks, knobs were missing, there were gouges and dings, and a bit dilapidated. Anyone could tell the dresser was in bad need of TLC. It was inexpensive, but was going to require lots of time and sweat equity.

Once I got it home, I began to apply stripper to it. I was amazed as I realized it had about thirteen layers of old paint. Each layer spoke to me as to the possible places that this dresser had been. The pink paint told the possibility of a little girl's room, the blue a little boy's room, the avocado green a time when that shade of green was fashionable. Each layer of paint told its own story. Yet, what I found as I made my way through the final layer of paint was the natural beauty of the wood itself. The natural wood had within itself the natural blemishes and knotholes that showed the character of the wood.

As I pondered and meditated on the significance of stripping that old dresser, it was revealed to me what has happened to most of humanity. Society, circumstances, and life has so colored and disfigured us that the natural beauty that God has given us has been lost. I could see the layers upon layers upon layers of painted guilt, fear, hurt, ridicule, anger, emotional wounds, father wounds, molestation, abortions, oppression, and depression. Each layer possesses its own story of reality. Because of those layers, our true identity in Christ has been lost. We have forgotten about our innocence. The paint has convinced us that we are worthless and hopeless. The paint tell us that we need to be discarded or that we need a new coat of paint to hide our hideousness.

I want to encourage you that you do not need another coat of paint. You are not hideous and worthless.You do not need to be whitewashed; you need to be washed white. You need to know that God is not mad at you; He is mad about you. Your potential is amazing. There is a stain that will bring out the natural beauty of your life. What used to be in a scrap pile can become a work of art. The true value is not in the condition of the paint, but in the beauty of the wood. Your blemishes and and flaws produce character.

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe

Image found here.

THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU

Amazing, powerful, and awesome do not come close to describing who you really are. For years, invisible forces have been unleashed to drag your life down into the deep dark cavern of complacency and lethargy. Circumstances have surrounded many of you to shackle you a to sense of hopelessness. Well, I expose and cancel out that lie and myth. You are not hopeless. You are a dreamer with unstoppable power.

I am writing this blog to encourage you to dream big, visualize the impossible, and believe that there is a Creator who has created you with powerful potential. The attack of these days and recent events are demanding greater fortitude and a paradigm shift. It is imperative that we change the way we think and the way we orchestrate our lives. We must surround ourselves with people that will help us and not hinder us; and in like manner, we will assist others to do and be better. Throughout these blog posts, I hope to challenge you to reach beyond the norm. To allow God to peel back the layers of hurts and fears. You will find that the peeling back of the veneer of this life will expose the true character of God in your life. All the natural blemishes, knotholes, and patterns are the true character of God's creation. It is my hope and desire that the real you will stand up. This is going to be a journey of excellence!

Humbly loving you,

Bishop Gabe