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.