Desire by Design Ministries

Let’s Agree in Prayer Together!

Desire by Design Ministries — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:52:51 +0000

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (country, earth, field, ground, land, nations, way, wilderness) 2 Chronicles 7:14

CALLING ALL PRAYER INTERCESSORS!

Join me every Saturday morning for the month of January in prayer along with women from all locations as we come together for life changing prayer as we stand in the gap for intercede for our children.

We will be praying for:

Salvation

Deliverance

Health

Safety

Overall Well being

Sound Mind & Wise Decisions

Fruitfulness

Godly relationships

Desire for Christ

How to operate in their talents and gifts

Godly parental wisdom and guidance

Understanding Honor & Respect

and any specific concerns that you may have for children.

Prayer will begin at 8 am prompt this Saturday January 14th, 21th, and 28th

To Dial in for this prayer meeting

Call: (661) 673-8600
Participant Access Code: 648670#

If you have something you’d like me to add to our prayer list concerning children email me at mel@desirebydesignministries.org with the child/s name and concern.

Filed under: Christianity

Desire by Design Ministries 2011 in review

Desire by Design Ministries — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:26:55 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,600 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 60 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Filed under: Christianity

Where there is ENVY and STRIFE….

Desire by Design Ministries — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:41:58 +0000

STRIFE IS A DESTROYER:

Satan knows that envy and strife destroy relationships and long-term friendships. He knows if he can create envy and strife between you and the ones you love, he can ruin those special relationships that God intended to be a blessing in your life. Do you have any relationships in your life right now that are under this kind of demonic attack?

The devil doesn’t just target relationships or friendships with this type of assault. He also knows how to get in between you and your church family, a ministry you love and support, or even the place of business where you work. The enemy doesn’t care whom he divides – as long as division is the result!

Since envy and strife are some of the tools he uses to do this, I believe it’s crucial you understand how to recognize envy and strife and how to have victory of them!

FIRST, LET’S DEAL WITH ENVY:

In James 3:16, the Bible says:

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Notice the word ‘envy’ in this verse. It is taken from the Greek word ‘zeros’, which means a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else.

This word ‘zeros’ is where we get the word ‘zealot’, which describes a person who is so captivated, obsessed, and fanatical about his own cause that others perceive him as an extremist on the threshold of becoming militant.

In the case of James 3:16, this word presents a picture of a believer who is so obsessed, gripped, and preoccupied with his own view of things that he can’t see or hear the view of anyone else. In fact, his militant perspective has made him lopsided in his thinking. He never takes a softer line but holds out until all the other parties admit defeat and agree with his point of view.

Therefore, the word envy in James 3:16 could be translated this way……

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the elimination of everyone else…. ”

If this kind of attitude continues, it will naturally lead to the next step in this horrible sequence of events. This is where strife comes into the picture! Notice that James goes on to say, “For where envying AND strife is….”

ABOUT STRIFE:

The word ‘strife’ is taken from the Greek word ‘eritheii’ – It was used by the ancient Greeks to stand for a ‘political party’.

This Greek word is often translated as a ‘party spirit’ because of its association to political systems or parties. Therefore, in order for us to understand why James used this word, we need to stop and think about the way political parties are formed and how they function.

Political parties are formed by a group of people who have similar values and views. The same way with believers, however, SOME Christians become so clouded by their ambition to see their own views adopted that they have no tolerance for anyone who sees things differently than they do and are unwilling to believe that the holy spirit can reveal his truth to others too. These people usually gravitate to other believers who hold similar views.

Once these so-called “like–minded” Christians find each other, they naturally begin to take sides, forming a kind of allegiance. Then they begin to form agendas and develop plans to see their views pushed, promoted, and accepted. As a result, people who once stood shoulder to shoulder often end up standing on different sides of a fight with their relationships ruined and filled with hurt.

When envy and strife have made it this far, the next step in this sequence of events is inevitable. James 3:16 continues; “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion”! According to the word of God, confusion WILL COME ON THE SCENE.

HERE COMES THE CONFUSION:

The word ‘confusion’ is taken from the word ‘akatastasia’. It was used in New Testament times to describe civil disobedience, disorder, and anarchy in a city, state, or government.

By using this word, James explicitly tells us that when situations of strife and discord are allowed to persist, an atmosphere of anarchy sets in that begins to destroy relationships once loved and cherished. Rational thinking is replaced by raw emotions, and people end up getting hurt.

James wanted to make sure we understood what this kind of conduct eventually produces if this behavior isn’t stopped. He goes on to say, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

EVIL REARS IT’S UGLY HEAD:

The word ‘evil’ is from the word ‘phaulos’ describing something that is terribly bad or exceedingly vile. We get the word ‘foul’ from this Greek word. James is saying that where envy and strife are permitted to operate, thus producing confusion and anarchy in relationships, they ultimately yield a foul-smelling situation or as I like to call it “A Hot Mess!”

These various Greek words in James 3:16 convey this idea in simple fashion:

“For where there is a fierce desire to promote one’s own ideas and convictions to the exclusion of everyone else, it produces divisions so great that people end up taking sides and forming differing parties with conflicting agendas. This is a terrible event, because it creates great unrest among people who should be united in Christ. Ultimately, the whole situation becomes a HOT mess!”

Don’t allow yourself to operate in this. As a matter of fact Galatians chapter 5 describes envy, strife, confusion, and evil works as lusts of the flesh and promises that anyone who operates this way will not inherit the kingdom of God. Look closely at Galatians 5: “The lusts of the flesh are these: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Again, in the book of Galations chapter 5 it is also written: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the lusts of the flesh. In the context of this blog, this scripture can be conveyed this way:

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified envy, strife, confusion and every evil work….”

This is because servants of Christ practice walking in the spirit not after the flesh – and these are the characteristics of walking in the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Paul reminds us in this same passage of scripture to not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

IN CONCLUSION:

Don’t Let Envy and Strife rise up and fill your environment with confusion and every evil work. Don’t let it overtake your heart. See your brothers and sisters like Christ sees them. Love, support and encourage one another. A servant’s walk is filled with trials, afflictions, etc. We don’t need to constantly be at one another, but rather praying for and loving each other. As servants, we should aspire to work together to glorify God, not dis-credit each other.

Filed under: Christianity

Sweeter Than Honey

Desire by Design Ministries — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:48:35 +0000

The word of God is to be desired more than gold, even the finest gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb - Psalms 19

The bible tells us the word of God is a lamp to our feet (lighting up how our daily individual walk should look) and a light to our path (Shedding light on the path to God’s perfect plan for our life). A familiar scripture in Psalms 119:105-106 tells us “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” This is why scripture tells us to lean not toward our own understanding but in everything we do seek God for direction before we speak or take action. What does God say? What has he instructed you to say , or to do, where to go? I set out to live daily by the word in Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. I’ve learned through the word of God that allowing God to direct my steps even when I don’t understand where he is taking me has brought victory into my life in great measure. It reminds me of a scripture I’ve often read in Psalms 119 that saids “ Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.”

That’s why I love to study the book of Proverbs because it contains wisdom nuggets that can set you on a straight path for success in every area of your life. In Proverbs 10:22 the bible tells us that allowing God’s word to govern your life produces great blessings” The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” For those bible thumpers who hate to see blessing and rich in the same sentence, let me expound using the Strong’s concordance as a tool for clarity. The word blessing in this scripture implies prosperity (1293-Hebrew) and the word rich implies to accumulate (6238-Hebrew). I believe when we accumulate in understanding, like Paul often prayed that the church would continue to grow in the knowledge of God, we prosper in all things, even as our souls prosper.

What I am leading up to is what I read this morning in Proverbs the eighteenth chapter. I initially went there to bring to remebrance the things I’ve read about the power of the tongue and was blessed with the richness of wisdom that the whole chapter contains and thought to share it with my readers. I hope this blesses you as much as it blesses me and my prayer is that you get the rhema (the revealed truth to walk in daily) out of it.

PROVERBS 18

1) An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
2) A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions.
3) When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace.
4) The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5) It is not good to be partial to the wicked, or to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 ) A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7) A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8- The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
9) One who is slack in his work, is brother to one who destroys.
10) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11) The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
12) Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13) He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame.
14) A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15) The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
16) A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.
17) The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.
18) Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19) An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20) From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21) The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
23) A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly.
24) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

God’s word is sweeter than honey Amen!

Filed under: Christianity

Who are you in Christ?

Desire by Design Ministries — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:24:17 +0000

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

As a believer of Christ we become a new man through the holy spirit and grow in faith through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we develop an intimate relationship with the Lord, he reveals great and mighty things to us. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 17-20 it is written:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As a new creature in Christ our hearts change and we operate differently from the world by faith. As I thought of what this heart change looked like I compiled some scriptures that came to mind of the mindset of a servant of Christ.

This is who you are in Christ:

You are redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13-14)
You are called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61: 1-3)
You have peace although in the world there are tribulations, but you are of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
You are reigning in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17)
You don’t look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen (II Corinthians 4:18)
You walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7)
You cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:5)
You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:21)
You are rooted and grounded in love, because Christ dwells within you (Ephesians 3:17)
You are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10)
You are partaker of God’s divine nature (II Peter 1:4)
You are prosperous and in good health, because your soul prospers (III John 2)
You are continually being transformed by the renewing of your mind to prove the perfect will of God (Romans 12:2)
You are healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:24)
You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37)
You are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13a, 14a)
You are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
You are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10)
You take the shield of faith and quench all of the fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16)
You pray your desires and receive them (Mark 11:24)
You are like a tree planted by the rivers of water and everything that you do prospers (Psalm 1:3)
You are a temple of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6:19)
You have been given exceeding great and precious promises, and by them you partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (II Peter 1:4)
You are led by the spirit of God; therefore, you are a son and daughter of God (Romans 8:14)
You don’t walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1)
All your needs are met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
You cast all your cares upon Him, because you know He cares for you (I Peter 5:7)
You are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3)
You are blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out (Deuteronomy 28:6)
You are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17)
You are increasing and abounding in love (I Thessalonians 3:12)
You are being made perfect in every good work to do God’s will (Hebrews 13:21)
You are showing forth the praise of God (Psalms 51:15)

Father God, I pray that the person reading this article will be changed by your Love and grow in a deeper revelation of who you are so they’ll know who they are. Give wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of you. Open the eyes of their understanding that they may know what is the hope of your calling and what the riches of the glory of your inheritance is in the saints and what the exceeding greatness of your power is to us who believe according to the working of your might power. I pray that the reader grows in your perfect love and with longsuffering, joyfulness and a patient heart becomes fruitful in every good work for your glory.

In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!

Until next time,

Love Mel

Filed under: Christianity

A Hardened Heart Against God

Desire by Design Ministries — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:45:26 +0000

A hardened heart is one that has become unfeeling, unsympathetic, stubborn and calloused. The Merriam-Webstar’s dictionary’s describes “hardened” as when the surface layer is harder than the interior. The person whose heart has become hardened is careless and insensible. The truth of God’s word can no longer penetrate into the spirit. There are many excuses and reasons why hearts become hardened. Many harden their hearts as a defense from disappointment, rejection, hurt or as a result of anger and bitterness. However, the more hardened you become, the more you stand the chance of being hurt because you don’t have the faith or trust in God to believe in and receive all of God’s fullness into your life. A stubborn and calloused heart doesn’t trust that God can love so much that he gave his only begotten son so that one would have eternal life. An unfeeling heart is a trick of enemy. Think about it, people with hardened hearts eventually become miserable and lonely beyond repair. They usually miss out on the blessings of love and support. Unfortunately they’ve been deceived because of their unbelief and have hardened their hearts towards God blaming others and the fact is that their outcome and empty existence is a result of their unbelief.

This is the opposite of how God has commanded us to walk. Scripture tells us to be of humble spirit, ready to obey God’s instruction and to be eager to love and forgive our fellow man. God gives grace to those that are of a humble spirit but he resists the loafty, stubborn and prideful. As it is written:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

Scriptures also tells us in the last days there will be perilous times and people will be lovers of themselves, boastful, abusive, without love, slanderous, lacking self control and preferring to rebel against God rather than to be obedient.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2nd Timothy 3:

We are living in this time today. But what has caused people’s hearts to become impatient, stubborn and calloused? Why have so many turned their ears from hearing the voice of God? The word tells us that those that rebel against God and practice sin have become hardened. Rebellion and sin hardens the hearts of men because they become deceived through the deceitfulness of sin. When you continuously disobey God after being instructed of the laws of righteousness in his word, you are distancing yourself from God to the point where you eventually cannot hear him. There is a consequence in the spirit realm that leads to destruction in this life afterwards eternal separation from God. Although God is long suffering, merciful and gracious to forgive us for our sins, it is written all throughout the bible that we should repent and turn to God and he will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Repenting means you draw closer to God to seek out his truth that it will change your heart and cause you to turn away from your sins. A hardened heart continues to engage in sin and refuses to repent.

In Hebrews we are reminded repeatedly to harden not your heart like in the day of provocation when God was provoked to anger when he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. As a matter of fact “Harden not your heart” is referenced four times in Hebrews chapters three and four which leads me to believe that guarding your heart and not letting it become calloused must be a priority to God.

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Hebrews 3: 7-9
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews:3:13
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Hebrews 4: 7-9
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Spoken by David in Psalms 95

Why does the bible caution you against hardening your heart? It is written:

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

A hardened heart no longer rest in believing God nor can it be encouraged by the word of God because of the deceitfulness of sin. A hardened heart becomes stiff necked to the word of God. This is a dangerous place because no matter how many times a person has been told of the word of God or God’s commandments, they resist it. It is written:

He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. Proverbs 29:1

You cannot get through to a person who has gotten to this point not even God himself. Rebelling and continuing in sin in this manner leads to a reprobate mind which is an unpardonable sin to God. Because of their heart of unbelief they cannot come to God for repentance therefore their sins cannot be pardoned.
People who have become reprobate still profess that they know God, however they deny him with their actions.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:16”

In Romans 1:28-32

Paul describes how one becomes reprobate and what happens to them:
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

In 2 Timothy 3:8, we are warned against resisting the truth:

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

The word of God tells us not to resist the truth, but to resist the devil and his deceitful lies.

It is written: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

A reprobate mind has this backwards – they resist God not the devil. I pray that you yield to God’s word that you be not tempted by the enemy to disregard God’s instruction and that you keep your heart tenderhearted toward God.

Filed under: Christianity, Deliverance, kingdom of God, Most High God, rebellion against God, reprobate, Salvation, Troubled Teens

Are you overwhelmed and pressed in on every side?

Desire by Design Ministries — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:56:35 +0000

We are living in a time where many are walking around in depression, oppression, heaviness of heart, worry, defeat, hopelessness, fear, and sadness. You may be able to relate or know of someone close to you who is dealing with some of the emotions above. There is a definite way to be free from the pressures of this world and the answer is a joyful heart.

Are you unhappy? Do you seek Joy in the Lord or is your joy found based on worldly outcomes? You can’t override everyday trials and tribulations by simply exercising a mental joy or a positive attitude. You have to stand on faith declaring the word of God over your circumstances. This world tells us that joy comes by desired worldly outcomes in your life. However, this type of joy is always interrupted by new issues and can never produce consistent contentment in your life. God’s answer to joy produces a sustained peaceful joy with contentment. Real joy is knowing God and believing that he will deliver you out of your circumstances and knowing that he is a perfect help in times of need. The bible tells us the joy of the Lord is our Strength. “Nehemiah 8:10”

God never expected us to walk around with a painted smile on our faces with failing hearts faking it until we make it. He doesn’t expect us to look at a pile of bills then shout for joy, or visit sick loved ones in the hospital with pretend joy or perhaps pop in a comedy to temporarily overcome loneliness with a good laugh.
The answer to the joy of the Lord being our strength is delighting in his word and believing his promises over your life and over your current circumstances right now. Those of us that study the bible are familiar with the scripture that tells us to study the word day and night (Joshua 1:8) There is also a scripture that tells us we should rejoice day and night: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. … Phillipians 4:4

Delighting in God’s promises produces a heart of gladness. He loves us and he is a deliverer. It is written, No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it. 1st Corinthians 10:13

Do you delight in reading the word of God and knowing the truth as it is written? How does your heart feel when you read the truth of the bible? Does your heart take delight in the word of God? It is written:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:4

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience and when patience has been perfected you will become mature and complete not lacking any good thing. James 1
Jesus overcame in the garden of Gethsemane before the Crucifixion through joy. It is written:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2
Jesus worshipped God in spirit and truth and his Joy was made full in the spirit. We cannot operate in true joy in the flesh. Sometimes people get into to a place where they feel everyone should understand their feelings of depression, sadness, etc. But God is not moved by emotions, he is moved by faith in his word. Depression and Heaviness is not of God but of the devil. There is no weakness or defeat in the Lord. . Fear, weakness, defeat, hopelessness and a heavy heart is not of God. These things are the opposite of Faith and it is impossible to please God without faith. No crying, pleading with God or sorrowfulness of heart will never please God.
Joy is a place, not a feeling. That place is called “in the spirit.”To exercise the joy of the lord we must do so in the spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. “John 4:24”
The bible tells us joy is a fruit of the spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
You cannot appeal to God without faith first.
Faith in this fact. Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
And faith according to this scripture: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].”Mark 11:24″
Therefore stop yielding to sadness and depression. Nothing in your life will never change like that. In fact, it will only get worse. God knows we can become burdened with the cares of this world. That’s why he tells us to cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us 1 Peter 5:7 Let’s face it, we can’t even do a simple thing that would be easy to God like add cubit to our stature. But God who can do all things simply expects us to ask and believe for his help and rejoice that truth!
Like Sarah and Rachel, Hannah was barren. But God had a plan for Hannah’s life before it ever entered Hannah’s mind about what she didn’t have or what she couldn’t do. Hannah was so unhappy because she couldn’t have children and she didn’t understand why. The bible says she cried, wouldn’t eat. She prayed all the time but became bitter and sore. This went on for a while and she remained in this state without her conditions changing and God was not moved by her emotions. But the bible tells us at the time she became “sad no more” 1st Samuel 1:18 shortly thereafter her husband knew her and she became pregnant with child, because her countenance changed. She longer cried about her current situation, but became content knowing God’s promises included her.
The bible tells us In the midst of David’s trials and tribulations, he encouraged himself. Why art thou cast down o my soul. Psalms 42:11
So how do you begin to exercise the Joy of the Lord in your life every day?
Understand that nothing is too hard for the Lord. God made heavens, planets, stars and everything within them. Be obedient in loving one another. The love of God never fails and if you are a servant of Christ it should never fail in your walk either. When is it going to happen? Your life is happening right now. Count it all joy!
Stop meditating on your trials and troubles. You don’t have to think about it. Cast down every vain imagination in your head that attempts to exalt itself above the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5
Meditate on God’s promises and think on good things: Phillipians 4:8
Bad company corrupts good morals, get yourself around faith and joy filled believers who count it all joy.
Stop speaking about what you don’t know or understand. This breeds ungratefulness.
Start speaking things that you do know like:
I’m forgiven,
God will help me
I’m healed,
I’ve got Joy
All my needs are met
I WILL rejoice in the Lord
I WILL be glad in the Lord

Walk in Joy Today and Watch How Faith Works in Your Life

Love,

Mel

Filed under: Bible Study, Deliverance, Jesus Christ, motivational, Women

The Thing Taken for Granted – The Most Valuable Treasure

Desire by Design Ministries — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:46:34 +0000

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Well readers, I hope you had an awesome weekend. I spent my weekend with good people sharing the good news, the Word of God. I found myself answering question after question about the Word of God and its life changing nature. It’s common that I come across doubt from some who are searching for truth, searching for answers, peace of mind etc. I thought to myself, we are such a privileged people, living here in the United States. We have available to us the precious word of God that sets one free and is abundantly and freely available to all who seek it. However, most don’t even value it enough to read it. There is so much controversy over the validity of this life source, the Living Word of God. This one book stirs up more controversy than any other book known, where the deceiver (Revelation 12:9) diligently works against it hoping that none would find truth. Every last prophecy explained in it has been fulfilled. It has changed the lives and the hearts of every single person who had the desire to pick it up and study it. It’s the only book that can set you free from bondage, eternal damnation, promise abundant blessings in this earth and give eternal life all for free. Jesus is the way the truth and life. It’s falsely known as a book of strict rules, a book of bondage. But to all those who have read it, they know the truth. It is a book of liberty.

My brother in Christ, Mark shared the above video this weekend and I’d like to share it with you. It’s about a place that prayed and believed God that they would have access to this book – The Living Word of God, that they would find the light of the World.

I pray that we here in the United States get a revelation on the precious treasure that this Word of God is. If you don’t have a bible to read, following are some online and mp3 resources that can get you started on a beautiful, successful, and rewarding life. Have you accepted Jesus into your life?

As I have given to you, freely give (Matt: 10:8)

http://bible.cc Word of God in several translations
http://www.biblegate.com Word of God in several translations
http://www.firefigthers.org free mp3 version of the bible in the King James Version

Abundant Peace, Blessings and Proverbs 19:8
“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”

Mel

Filed under: Christianity

Bad roots produce good trees?

Desire by Design Ministries — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:00:41 +0000

Halloween

As believers, we must “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

Halloween is not an innocent `holiday’, but is rather a satanic celebration and a means to further corrupt our culture and children.
The roots of Halloween are from an ancient druid observance Samhain at the end of summer (Nov. 1). The Celtics believed Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished. The Celtics lit bone fires to assist the druids (priests) as they offered sacrifices to placate the gods. Sometimes these sacrifices were human.

Later the church grafted Christianity with this custom. By calling Nov 1 `All saints day’ Oct. 31 became All Hallows’ Eve. Many of the customs and rituals of this pagan celebration have survived to this day. Wiccan consider Halloween a Shabbat. Halloween is now a confusing mix of paganism and Christianity. But [they] were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. (Psalm 106:35) Still today some churches have joined themselves to this unholy day. Some Christian schools even allow the children to dress up and call it harvest festival, or autumn celebration or something harmless sounding. However there is nothing innocuous about Halloween. Consider the traditional symbols of Halloween; witches, ghosts, jack-o’-lanterns (carved to resemble damned souls).
Bad trees produce bad fruit. An evil beginning has an evil end.

We must take a stand against this carnival of evil. I realize especially for parents it is not easy to take a stand against this pagan holiday. However, ” … have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11) Be friendly but firm when asked about your beliefs regarding Halloween. Do not waver, and turn down the offers of parties, candies, etc. Do not emulate pagan practices. Teach your children the truth. As a light we must shine, not blend in. “For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?…Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”* (2 Corinthians 6:14, 15, 17)

There is too long a history about this pagan day to address in this brief article. I suggest you google `Halloween origins’ online for yourself. Pray also for wisdom and for your children and grandchildren during this unholy festival. Be strong, be unyielding, be godly.

Celebrate the LORD, your God, and the feasts that were given to us by Him.

Emulate Yeshua.

In all your getting, get understanding

Abundant Peace, Blessings and Proverb 4:5-7

Filed under: Bible Study, Christianity, Deliverance, Devotional, Halloween, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, Most High God, motivational, Redemption, Salvation, Troubled Teens, Women

The Bride of Christ and Her Wedding Dress

Desire by Design Ministries — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:38:01 +0000

He who has ears to hear let him hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying:

I want to share this soul searching song with you by Derek Webb. The bible says that we are supposed to be able to look into the Word of God and see our natural face. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed – James 1:23

It’s a song about the bride of Christ. It’s about how the church (the bride) has prostituted herself for her own selfish desires. It addresses today’s popular mindset of drawing nearer to Christ in hopes of enjoying the things in the world. We must stop promising to love and obey God and then prefer possessions, positions and pleasures over the Prince of Peace. Like this song states “One hand in a pot of gold and the other in Your side. There are many who profess to love Jesus but are so easily satisfied and influenced with less than Christ.

Ian, a truly annointed praise and worship leader at Oasis (where I worship) intoduced us to this song yesterday. But before he sang, he led us to Hosea beginning with chapter 2:

(Charges against an Unfaithful Wife)

“But now bring charges against Israel—your mother—for she is no longer my wife,

and I am no longer her husband. Tell her to remove the prostitute’s makeup from her face and the clothing that exposes her breasts. Otherwise, I will strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I will leave her to die of thirst, as in a dry and barren wilderness. And I will not love her children, for they were conceived in prostitution. Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, ‘I’ll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water, for clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil and drinks.’ “For this reason I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way. When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now.’ She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has— the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal. “But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine I generously provided each harvest season. I will take away the wool and linen clothing I gave her to cover her nakedness. I will strip her naked in public, while all her lovers look on. No one will be able to rescue her from my hands. I will put an end to her annual festivals, her new moon celebrations, and her Sabbath days— all her appointed festivals. I will destroy her grapevines and fig trees, things she claims her lovers gave her. I will let them grow into tangled thickets, where only wild animals will eat the fruit. I will punish her for all those times when she burned incense to her images of Baal, when she put on her earrings and jewels and went out to look for her lovers but forgot all about me,” says the Lord.

But because he loves his people so much the Lord follows by saying

The Lord’s Love for Unfaithful Israel “But then I will win her back once again.

Then he sang the this powerful song “Wedding Dress” by Derek Webb (lyrics below)

Lyrics:
If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I’d ever need
or is there more I’m looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I’m a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because money cannot buy
a husband’s jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

By Derek Webb

I invite you to come fellowship with me at: Oasis in Aurora, IL.

Filed under: Bible, Bible Study, Christianity, Deliverance, Devotional, Inspirational, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, love, Most High God, motivational, Prayer, Redemption, Salvation, Troubled Teens, wisdom, Women Tagged: Bride of Christ