Become Renewed

Psalm 51:10 (New International Version) 10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." I have been reading a great book by Jentezen Franklin titled, "Fasting." Anyone who knows of Jentezen and his ministry knows he is a firm believer in fasting and often talks of the benefits both spiritual and physical. I like the fact that he emphasizes that it isn't an easy thing to do and he has such a practical approach to fasting. Well you probably guessed it. I see so many of us who seem to need a renewal and sanctification of motives, desires, attitudes, our flesh, and frankly a right spirit. We all know David's story of failure with Bathsheba but I'm focusing on Our God's forgiving and restoration desire and power for us. In the Old Testament God didn't leave David on his own. In the New Testament he didn't leave you and I alone either. I am sensing a season of of forgiving restoration power for anyone who wants to grab it. I was speaking to a friend of mine last night and I find very often that the reason we don't gain more ground for God and solidify more of God's ways in our lives is because we don't want to pay the price that it takes to get past the things that we struggle with. We become comfortable with them and some sin can be like an old friend waiting to make us feel good for a moment and then feel terrible for a month! I'm not necessarily focusing on sin but lets say you and I want more power and more of God's movement in our lives than just the daily prayers and salutations. Then speaking for me and some of you we are going to have to pay a bigger price. You have heard it said that the most expensive things in life cost the most. That's no different spiritually. We want the best; we have to pay the price. God sent his son Jesus so we could have access to him and his ways, but it is up to you and I to tap into them. So here I go...Time to pay the price. I am encouraged though, I believe it will be well worth it! I can miss a meal or two and spend more time in prayer! It isn't going to hurt me. Read Isaiah 58 and 59 see the benefits of fasting and paying the price. I will write more as I walk this road. Your prayers are appreciated.
Howard's Helpful Hint: Centered people pay the price required by scripture to get where they desire to go.

The Lord Watches Over Us

Psalm 33:18 (New Living Translation)18 "But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love." Our heavenly Father is a loving God who is trustworthy and just in all things. I am taking comfort in the fact that God is truly watching over me and my family. He isn't an innocent bystander just glancing here and there and not engaged. He is actively watching over and protecting and guiding his people who rely on his unfailing love. How do I rely on his unfailing love? Just as I wrote that our Heavenly Father isn't idly standing by; we shouldn't be either. I have to remind myself at times, that I have to be engaged and actively reading the word, praying the word and believing the word. God isn't going to do that for me. There are so many promises I may not even know pertain to me just because I ha vent read it and prayed it in his word. The scripture states that God is no respecter of persons. it also states that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Therefore i should be able to have what his word says i can have. The Holy Spirit is watching over you and I and longing to engage us in conversation and worship. The Lord is watching over us. That doesn't mean that nothing bad, hard or wrong cannot enter our lives today. It does mean that he is right along side of us, loving us, and holding us up when the good or bad decides to come along. Thank your heavenly father today for all his loving watching eye on you. Howard's Helpful Hint: Centered people develop an awareness of the goodness of God.

Praise and Dont Forget

Psalm 103:2 (New International Version)2 "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." I find that during the hard seasons of life I tend to focus on the issue at hand or problem and not always on what I should be focused on. The problem always seems to stay forefront in my mind. So I made a conscious decision to do something about that. Throughout my recent weeks I have been opening my bible and out loud I voice and pray Psalm 103. I declare to God that he alone forgives all my sins, heals my diseases, redeems my life from the pit, crowns me with love and compassion, satisfies my life with good things, renews my youth like the eagles, works righteousness and justice on my behalf when i am oppressed, makes his ways and deeds known, is compassionate and gracious, Is slow to anger and abounding in love, does not treat me according to my sins, has removed my transgressions as far as the east is from the west, and has compassion on me like a father with his very own child. All of that just from Psalm 103! There are many many more reasons to praise the Lord, but i have to admit that is a pretty good start. So today if you find yourself under attack and feeling less appreciated and thinking life has passed you by; refocus on the Father and Praise him for who he is and thank him for all his benefits. Even if I never got to experience any of his benefits here on earth (which I have by the way) I still have been granted salvation by his son Jesus obedience on the cross.
So today I will Praise and not forget. Howard's Helpful Hints: Centered people remind themselves of God's goodness and benefits.

Turning Eyes Toward the Father

Luke 6:22-23 (New International Version)22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man." 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." I will be the first to admit I am not the most righteous of people. I am still growing in the Lord and I have my faults and failures just like any other human being on the face of the earth. It may be hard for some of you to believe the emails I receive can be quite rude, blaming and downright unloving. They range from some of my thoughts to some of my links on the links page etc. So here is my thought on the matter. Lets say that perhaps i have a link that you find "offensive" because of what "little" you have seen of the person on TV or heard them on radio. Lets even go so far to say that you are right and I am wrong. I saw God clean his house in the 1980's with televangelist that were in sin; I saw him clean his house of the wrongs some catholic priest were doing in the 1990's-2000's. If some of who are on my links are deceiving me and others; then i trust God will clean his house of those too. But here is my rub; don't blame me for having them on my links page. I vouch for those I personally do know and others will come to light. If you are going to write me have the courage to tell me your name and also be "nice." If it makes you that angry. Then just go away! My goal is to turn eyes toward the Father, not men or man. God uses people and he uses people who fail and at times had wrong motives. I place links as resources to help the body of Christ. I am sure I will regret a few in my lifetime. Big deal. I too will move on. I pray Idon't have anyone on my list who is "conning" anyone. But if I do i trust God to reveal it to me and to move things along. There have been a few who like in Luke 6 have decided i have no credibility and have insulted me etc. To them I say; if you are offended practice the word and forgive me and then go read a lesson or two on love. It doesn't matter what is said if the person you said it to cant receive it because of the way you said it. No matter how truthful it is. I find we often hate what we don't understand or perceive as different. Don't get me wrong I do like input from all of you and value it and take it all very seriously. I just prefer it come to me in the form of love and not an attack. Howard's Helpful Hint: Centered people learn to deal with brother and sisters in the Lord with Love.