“There is a difference between the freedom to choose and the choices that bring freedom.” – Erwin McManus
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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I will restore the years
by DP
What a breathtaking thought! The mere possibility inspires me. The possibility to restore what has already been! You mean that I will make up, relive those years? You mean that there is a way to redo my life? A way to amend those relationships, those moments that marked my life in a way I did not desire?
Years that were taken by the ignorance, the unawareness of the times that were being lived. The time that was supposed to propel you into new heights, new levels, and now you feel stuck in the midst of your life. The most persisting thought that comes to heart is the sense of the years. That feeling that nothing can be done, because your time has passed. That paralyzing thought that controls you. The feeling of powerlessness, the silent voice saying, “I cant do anything, the years have passed and I have made many, many mistakes. Mistakes that have affected not only me, but those that are close to me too”.
But then, I read this verse in the book of Joel. “I will restore the years…” Wow!. What an amazing God we serve, that knows how we will be accusing ourselves. Not seeing how He sees us. We stop at the thought that “If I did it, I cant do anything about it” and we don’t give the fight. But you can. I am not ignoring the fact that consequences will follow our actions, be good or bad, but what I am saying is that in spite of those consequences, God can restore your years, He can restore your relationships, he can restore your marriage, he can restore your dignity, he can restore your family, and make up for the mistakes and decisions your have made, if you truly follow and obey him.
What a wonderful thought, and more importantly what a wonderful promise!, I will restore for you the years…
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2010
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This could be your story
by DP
How hopeful to know that Jacob from being a cheater and a liar, became part of the genealogy of Jesus! The Bible does not hide the fact that he had to toil much more in his life to attain the blessings that God gave him. He worked hard to get his promised wife and the fought with the Angel of God for a blessing, and won. He also created lifelong enemies with his brother until he was forgiven. For his ways he had also fallen into the trap of deceit, when Laban his father in law, cheated him giving him his other daughter and having to work more for the one he really loved. Hard days and hard situations which he had brought upon himself.
But this story instead of being sad, gives hope to all of us that have had a less than perfect past. You know, the moments in life when you have not been specially truthful, or when you have wronged someone knowingly and had fled leaving that person hurting. And what about deceit? We can go on and on with many of the mistakes and mishaps, be it small, medium, large or extra large ones, that have already passed but continue to accuse you today. It might have been years ago, and you still walk today having that mistake hanging around your neck like a sign that says, “I can’t, I did this or that in the past”. You are not perfect and you may have done many wrong deeds in your past. But there is hope, and there is a future. As Jacob went to know very well, redemption is something a man cannot do by himself, it has to come from God, and He is willing.
He is willing to make you new, to go deep in your heart and change everything. He is so willing that he already made a plan and executed it on your behalf. It is called Grace. It was performed by his son Jesus on the cross where He gave himself for you and for me so our sins would be forgiven and our lives would be redeemed. You have toiled enough to know that you have not gotten to far. It has been hard and every time you consider it, your past comes to haunt you again. But it doesn’t have to be that way, all the accusations, all the sins, all the mistakes, all the wrongs, and the past has been forgiven, by his Grace.
Jacob came to be part of the genealogy of Jesus, the Savior of the world. His name is forever branded in history, in spite of his past, as one of the great fathers of a nation, and his name was changed from Jacob, which means cheater, to Israel. All because he was redeemed and forgiven. This could also be your story if you choose to; to be forgiven, restored and redeemed. It is up to you, He has forgiven all our sins and restored all things by his sacrifice in the cross. He has plans for your life, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
One thing I know about you and that is, that your future is breathtaking, because Jacob’s story of redemption, could be your story.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2011
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He will rebuild the walls…
by DP
Nehemiah, the king’s cup-bearer went to Jerusalem, to rebuild it. The city was in shambles. The story describes that he scouted the ruins at night. He even walked through them, alone. He assessed the condition of the city and it’s walls. Then comes this verse, where he acknowledges where they stand and what they were going to do, “let us build the wall”.
Today when you look at your situation, at your life, you might feel not like Nehemiah, but like the walls of Jerusalem; in ruins, destroyed, forgotten and with no apparent hope. You might even feel that the gates of your soul are burned down, and no further protection exists for you. That because of all that you have been through and all the hurt that you have experienced, the walls will remain in ruins. What you see tells you, there is nothing else to do.
But God is telling you today, I will rebuild your walls and I will rebuild your life. As Nehemiah did and told everyone that was with him; yes, their condition was critical and vulnerable, but they would rebuild the walls. You might be in a very difficult plight, and everyone has discounted you already. What they don’t know is that the Master Builder is here. As Nehemiah did with the walls, God is here today, right now, wanting to rebuild your life. He restores your gates, putting new doors. He restores your walls building your heart brick by brick, telling you that no longer you will be reproached, shunned or forgotten because He loves you.
You will stand tall, you will stand strong, you will be a testimony of the artisan ability of the Creative God. Take heart, take hope, the Master Builder is here, He will rebuild the walls!
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2010
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…for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
by DP
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 1 Kings 18:41 NKJV
How is it that Elijah heard the sound of abundant rain? Clear skies, no clouds, no signs, no rain. Was he out of his mind? No, but Elijah had foresight of the rain to come.
Elijah knew the season he was in. When you are connected with God, you seek His presence and stay obedient, you will have the revelation of the seasons. Not the natural seasons, but the spiritual ones. You will know when to go out and when to stay in, when to talk and when to stay quiet, when to walk and when to stand still. Regardless of what everybody else sees, does and tells you, you will have a revelation of the season for your life and what to do. You will hear the voice that says, I hear the sound of rain!
Rain? We ask, in middle of this trial? Rain? When my spouse has left. Rain? When my finances are a mess. Rain? When I have come to the end of my resources? Rain? When I have no direction in life? Yes, the sound of abundance of rain. It will come without notice, and when it comes it will pour to overflow. There are seasons in our life that are characterized by the drought. The lack of meaning, the want of better and brighter days. We don’t see nothing happening. Our flesh starts to take over our spirit and begins to convince it that as dry as it seems, it will definitely get worse. It is a battle between what we can see and what we can’t. It is confusing, when our emotions take over and try to control our mindset.
But God will pour rain over your health, over your children, over your trial, over your relationships, over your work, over your finances, and when it happens it will be like a flood. You will have to run, so be prepared for His rain.
Therefore, go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain!
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2007
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Out of the cave
David knew that his calling was to be the king of Israel. At the time he was running for his life along with the men that composed his army. Seeing that Saul was near, they decided to enter a cave and hide. Amazingly, Saul entered this cave alone to relieve himself without knowing that David and his men where there. What a spectacular moment in which David could coup the government, or as his men suggested, kill the king and fulfill his calling. Nevertheless, he restrained himself, and waited. After Saul exited the cave, David emerged behind him, and called him.
This story holds more substance that what is being considered here, but when one reads, David’s first instinct was to take cover and hide; he had actually refuged before in other caves before. He thought that being in the cave gave him the sense of security and it also provided with the opportunity to fulfill his call comfortably. So why he did not take advantage? What was the problem with that?
We all have situations in which we run into caves and hide. There are situations, in which in fact we have to look for a safe place to be and wait. But more often than not, we stay in the cave and don’t come out. We hide in our fears and remain in the dark, we hinder the opportunity of seeing God’s hand in our lives because we stay hidden. Sometimes we even try to fulfill our calling in the dark, not trusting God to do exceedingly and abundantly in our lives. David confronted his situation, out of the cave and in broad daylight.
It’s time to stop running, to stop hiding, to get out of that cave and to leave behind the past, the hurts, the scars and confront your fears in broad daylight. Humble yourself in His presence and then, and only then God’s calling for your life will come to pass. If God said it, it will come to pass, and it will not be hidden.
God is calling you today, out of the cave.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2006
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Danger Zone
by DP
Yet you made them only a little lower than God, and crowned them, with glory and honor. Psalms 8:5 NLT
Have you ever walk in a place where you feel uneasy, threatened and maybe a little scared? There are situations, places and even people that had made us feel this way. Situations that we cannot control, places we don’t know and people that are against us. Our senses just translate all of that as a place, a person or a situation that could harm us. And yes there are many of them that are real threats to our well being, and if left unchecked they can bring havoc.
Now, we can sit down and dwell about these issues and get depressed or just sit down and stop our pursuit of the dreams in our hearts. “No more,” you could say, “it is to dangerous to continue”, and maybe you are right, it is a dangerous endeavor. But what would you do? Just stop and let the burning desire in your heart die? Or to talk your way out and rationalize your decision to be defeated by a ghost? Talk is cheap when action is needed.
Many times we let our circumstances define who we are. We look at what our resources say we can and cannot achieve. Our mirror is obscure and dull and doesn’t reflect the way God sees you.
Let me tell you who you are. The bible says that God created us a little lower than himself, and has crowned us with glory and honor. You might say, should that mean anything to me? It does. In the original, the term for God in this verse was Elohim, which means the uncalculated power of God. So you were created for greatness, you were created to reign. In every place and in every situation and before every person that comes your way, it shouldn’t be a matter of how dangerous it is for you, but how dangerous it is for them, they have stepped into the presence of a son and daughter of Elohim, they are in the presence of royalty and that means that they are in God’s danger zone and their lives will never be the same.
You will walk with a stride of confidence. You will be entering the scene not alone, but empowered. He has given you the authority to shift everything in your path for the glory of the One that created you and crowned you with honor and glory. Don’t let anything tell you otherwise and be prepared for greater things. Look at yourself as He sees you. You have become God’s danger zone.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2011
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Who are You?
by DP
Ruth and Naomi, both widowed, alone, with no stability, security or sense of purpose, went to Judah looking for bread. Naomi was so depressed that she even made herself called Mara, which meant bitterness. Ruth, who went with her, was also troubled by all of the situations she had been through. Yes, they had every human reason to feel bitter, discouraged, alone, unfulfilled, empty and unworthy. But then came Boaz. As the story unfolds, Boaz provided and restored them completely. He made Ruth, previously a foreigner, his wife.
Who are you?, he asked. She did not say, I am a widow; I am a beggar, eating scraps from your fields. She did not allow her circumstances give identity to her. She did not allow her situation take control of her mindset and take root in her heart. She did not allow outside influences determine who she was, she plainly answered, “I am your maidservant”.
You need to know who you are. Your circumstances do not dictate your identity. Your moods, your emotions, your finances, don’t determine who you are. As Naomi, you may be going through extremely difficult times, that may even change the way you regard yourself. Regrets and discouragement can overtake you, but when you realize that you are a servant of the most High God, not a foreigner, He will restore you, He will bless you, He will keep you and bring you under His wing. He will make you stand tall and shine upon your face, and will give you favor and grace and strength.
The realization that you and I are His, determine our identity, and no matter what pans out around us, He will be our El Shaddai, the God that is more than enough. When we seek Him, when we worship Him in the middle of our trials, He will lift us and he will guide us, and he will bless us until it overflows. The circumstances only affirm that we are His. Who are you? Jesus answered that question when he came and gave himself for our sins and restored everything.
So the question remains, Who are you? Jesus already answered, You are His. Stand up and receive what is yours!
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”
© Copyright DP, 2006
BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE boldly 