SET YOUR THERMOSTAT

Proverbs 18

21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue : and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 

Mark 11

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

What you have is determined by what you continually say.  Jesus said that you will have what you say and believe.  However, what you continually say will affect what you believe.

When I was a boy we used the word doggone as a substitute for cussing.  It is an interesting word.  I never found out the etymology of it.  But think about literally.  If the dog is gone then instead of just saying "doggone" we usually begin to call for the dog that is not.  My dog was named "Tramp".  So, I would say, "Here Tramp", because I wanted Tramp to come here.

Everyone uses this principle at on time or another:

Romans 4

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Have you ever said, "I BELIEVE I HAVE the flu"?  If you had all the symptoms then you would not say "I believe". 

You would say “I know”.  So, in essence, you were calling for the thing that was not.

I heard this example several years ago and recently.  It's the example of your thermostat.  Most thermostats have a thermometer on the control box that tells you what the current temperature is.  When you want the temperature to change you don't set thermostat by the thermometer and call it like it is.  You call for the temperature that is not.

Some so-called believers rebell after hearing teaching on the power of the tongue, and say that they will continue to call it like it is.  But if you listen to them for a while, they will call something that is not; usually a negative thing.  But they won't recognize it because they have been programmed by the world and the devil to overlook this principle when it is used in the negative.  Others will endeavor to use the principle in the positive for a while but grow weak before seeing the thing they are calling for.

Allow me to take the illustration a little further.  It gets extremely hot in Houston during July and August.  We try to conserve energy when no one is at the church and adjust the thermostat or even turn it off.  Sometimes, if we are late adjusting the temperature to cool, it takes a long time to cool or may not even totally cool the facility during a midweek evening service when its battling the heat of the day.  However, we have never given up and adjusted the thermostat back to the current temperature.  We set the thermostat and leave it set.  Oh that believers would use the same wisdom when calling for the answer to prayer!

How about just setting your spiritual thermostat on "By His stripes I am healed" and leaving it there.  How about just setting your confession on “all my needs are met in abundance” and never allow yourself to say or think anything else.

Set your thermostat on blessed and LEAVE IT THERE!!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for double-mindedness and a double tongue.  And please forgive me for judging your will by what I see.  I repent now and go the way of the just who live by faith.  All my needs are met according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  And by His stripes I AM healed.  I have the peace of God in my heart and in my home. And all my family is saved.  No weapon formed against me will prosper and I refuse to form a weapon against myself.  I commit to this kind of thinking and talking from now on.  Please help me recognize and correct doubt in my words.  In Jesus name, Amen.

TODAY’S CONFESSION

It is a good thing to speak the word (the Blessing) over your life (spirit, soul, body, finances, relationships, etc.) every day.  We all should make that commitment.  But Jesus said take no thought for tomorrow. _{[Matt 6:25-34.]}  Maybe a commitment for tomorrow is too much for you right now.  Let’s just make today’s confession.

It reminds me of Hebrews 3:12 & 13 which says, “. . . exhort one another daily, while it is called Today.”  Don’t think about tomorrow.  Share this Word with someone today.  Here’s the Word:  There is power in declaring that you are blessed.  And more power is released when you specify what that blessing is.

Let’s say it now.

“I am blessed and I cannot be cursed.”

Jesus was made a curse for me, so that I can have Abraham’s blessing. _{[Gal 3:13]}  I have Abraham’s blessing.

I am empowered to prosper in my health.  My body is restored to health according to God’s original design.  I’m saving a truck load of money on doctor and hospital bills.

[Are you saying it out loud?]

I’m empowered to prosper in my finances.  Money thieves that were assigned to me have been stopped and relieved of their assignment. _{[Mal 3:11]}  I have money-making ideas and I’m not afraid to act on them.  The favor of God is on me and it brings wealth and increase. _{[Psalm 5:12]}  I have nothing missing and nothing broken.

I am empowered to prosper in my relationships.  All relationship breaches are repaired and I am restored to favor with my loved ones. _{[Isaiah 58:12]}  I am free from strife and I am a dispenser of joy and peace.

I am empowered to prosper in my soul.  I am sensitive and obedient to God.  I am full of the Holy Ghost.  I am full of the love of God. _{[Rom 5:5]}  I am full of faith.  I am full of joy and peace. _{[Rom 15:13]}  The gifts of the Spirit are working in me and I am a soul winner for Jesus.  God has a plan for my life and I hear Him as He reveals it to me.  I am successfully walking in the plan of God for my life.

 

I AM SUCCESSFUL!

I AM HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE!

I AM BLESSED AND I CANNOT BE CURSED!

THAT’S MY CONFESSION AND I’M STICKING TO IT.

DIVORCE YOUR PAST

Are you married or single?  Of course the question is rhetorical.  I really don’t need to know, with myself being happily married.  I asked the question because of a Word from the Lord that got me thinking.  Many people may consider themselves single because they are not married to a person.  But are you married to your past?

Naturally Speaking

God ordained marriage to legalize intimacy.  The divine purpose for intimacy is for planting seed.  Pregnancy is God’s idea.  God made Adam in His image and He wanted that image reproduced.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “History repeats itself”?  I’m sure you have.  But, did you ever wonder why?  Globally speaking, people are the same.  When people don’t know their history and learn from it, they are doomed to repeat it.  Actually the Bible guarantees history repeating itself in Ecclesiastes 1:9&10.

However, I’m persuaded that events repeat themselves in a specific individual’s life because a person can be so emotionally affected by an event or series of events that they become emotionally married to their past.

Question: Do thoughts of your past still generate approximately the same intensity of emotional reaction that they generated in the beginning? 

If this is the case, it would seem to indicate that you are still intimate with those memories.  Remember, intimacy is for getting pregnant.  I know the world thinks it is for pleasure.  But actually, pleasure is the fringe benefit that God gave for obeying His command to reproduce. 

Spiritually Speaking

What am I saying?  Simply this: God’s plan for physical intimacy mirrors His plan for spiritual intimacy.  This is why God wants to be intimate with you.  He has an awesome plan for you and He wants you to get pregnant with it; pregnant with a vision for your future.  In fact, you must get pregnant before you can have the baby.

Here’s an abortion that is approved by God.  Whatever the enemy did in your life that still lives big in your psyche, get rid of it! 

If you remain intimate with the past,

 you will keep giving birth to past events.

Now it’s time to get pregnant with God’s thoughts and God’s plan.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Notice God has thoughts and plans and they are for good.  How can we make God’s thoughts and plans for us become a physical reality?  We must discontinue habitual intimacy with our past and become intimate with God, who is our bright future!

Let me tell you how to do that:

1. If you have not done so, make Jesus Christ the Lord of you life right now.  Pray this prayer: Jesus, I believe you died for me and rose again for me.  I believe that price you paid was more than enough to save me from hell and a sin dominated life here on earth.  Come into my heart.  Be my Lord and Savior.  I receive you and give you complete control of the rest of my life.
2. Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The same Jesus that saved you wants to fill you with His Spirit.  Pray this aloud: “Lord Jesus, I want everything that you have for me.  Fill me now with the Holy Spirit.  I want to be totally filled and immersed in you.  I love you, Jesus.  Thank you for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.”
3. Divorce your past. I’m not trying to tell you to totally forget your past.  Just don’t live in it.  Keep it from being reborn into your future.  Let me help you with that also.  Say this aloud: I hereby now divorce my past.  I’m not trying to eliminate or deny my past.  I’m only refusing to live in my past.  Heavenly Father, I ask you to give me the wisdom and ability to recognize and cast out thoughts that tie me to my past.  I accept the fact that my future is bright in you and that’s what I’m going to think about.
4. Spend a lot of time praying and listening to God. God not only wants to give you a vision for your future.  He also likes you and wants to spend time with you.  You probably have already heard that He loves you.  But did you know that God likes you.  So spend time with Him.  Get to know Him.  He’s a nice Guy.

10 Tips On Parenting

Tip 1 – Command Respect, Don’t Demand It. One of the foundations of a good relationship with other people is mutual respect. As a parent you should be commanding the respect of your children, through your actions and words, not demanding that they respect you. As your child learns to respect you in this manner, they will also learn to command respect from others, rather than trying to demand it.

Tip 2 – Maintain Healthy Relationships with Others. Whether it is your spouse or your own friends, it is important that you model good relationship behavior for your children. By having strong relationships with your spouse and your friends, you can show your children how to have strong and healthy relationships with you and the other people in their lives.

Tip 3 – Be a Role Model. Who do you want your children to emulate in their lives, a famous sports star or yourself?

Parents should always want to be the number one role model for their children. You want to show them right from wrong, and do this through being a role model who they can emulate in their own lives. Show them how you live and how you do the right things in life even when you are challenged.

Tip 4 –

Talk With Your Children, Not At Them. It can be easier to tell your child not to do something or how to behave. However, if you take the time to talk with your children about your expectations, and their expectations as well, you can have a healthy line of communication. This communication channel will grow over the years and you will find that your children will come to you with their issues they need help with. If you talk at your children, they will be less likely to come to you because they will fear a lecture and disapproval.

Tip 5 – Give Unconditional Love and Support. Children are still growing and learning. They will do things at times which you will not approve of, and may not even understand their thinking behind. By always supporting your child with unconditional love, even during the rough times, you can show your child that they will always have your love and support. While you may not approve of their actions, they know that you love them and that you simply do not love the action they took.

Tip 6 – Show Support Though Positive Reinforcement. Never use the words stupid, dumb or other negative words to describe your children. Never tell them they are, or make them feel, less-than. If your children are in school, they will hear enough negativity from the other children when adults are not present. Build them up through positive words at home, so that they will be able to deflect the negative words they hear when you are not with them.

Tip 7 – Eat Smart as a Family. Food habits start from a very young age; what you eat as a child has a lot to do with your eating habits later in life. Start your children off right by offering them whole and healthy foods. If they start eating healthy from a very young age, then they will likely continue to eat well throughout their lives. It is much easier to get children to eat healthy foods if that is the only thing they know.

Tip 8 – Play With Your Children – Often! Children learn though play. By playing with your children you are able to teach them, and they will believe they are just simply playing. Teaching through play is a wonderful way to keep your children both entertained and captive to the lessons you want to instill in them.

Tip 9 – Avoid The Bad Toys, Games and TV. While it may be easier to turn on the TV for your child and let them watch whatever they want this is not a good option. TV will constantly sell to your child through advertisements which are very well designed to make your children want certain toys and games. If you can avoid as many of the bad toys, games and TV itself, you are on the way to having much healthier and safer kids.

Tip 10 – Educate Your Children With Their Toys. By purchasing educational toys for your children you are enabling them to have fun and learn at the same time. One of the best places to purchase your educational toys is through www.mychildplayhouses.com

Relieve Back To School Stress and Anxiety

Start Early

Let’s face it — over the summer, most families take their cues from the sun and stay up later. While it may be tempting to keep the late-night fun going up until the end, starting your school routine a few weeks early can help ease the transition back to school. Starting two to three weeks before the advent of school, begin going to bed and getting up close to when you need to for school, and try to eat on a more regular schedule as well. This advice isn’t just for little kids — teens and adults need quality sleep for proper functioning as well, and getting your schedule straight now will help ensure that you all start the school year off more prepared and don’t feel as much anxiety over the advent of that first day.

Do A Walk-Through 

While we’re on the topic of starting early, it’s a good idea to visit the school before the first day. For kids who are going to be first-timers for kindergarten, first grade, middle school, or even high school, this can help them feel more comfortable with the new place and get a better idea of where to go once they’re there. Even for returning students, it doesn’t hurt to know where the classroom is, say hello to whatever staff is there getting ready, and start getting excited about going back.

Stack The Deck

If you have any input in your child’s class assignment, it’s a good idea to ensure that there’s at least one friend in the class or classes your child will be attending. If classes are assigned without your input, talk to other parents and try to find out who your child will be sharing a class with ahead of time, and let them know. Knowing who is in their class will give them something else to look forward to, and remind them of what they enjoy about school. If your child is entering kindergarten or first grade, it might be a good idea to have a play date with one of the children who will be in their class a week before school starts to help them feel more comfortable and get more excited about seeing their friends again in school.

Get Ready

As most moms will tell you, nothing alleviates stress like a good shopping trip. While I say that half-joking, there’s some real truth in the idea that back to school shopping can help kids get more excited about school starting, at least for most kids. If your child really couldn’t care less about shopping, you can make it quick and painless, but for kids who relish the annual decisions of which clothes, backpacks, and other supplies will be theirs this year, the back to school shopping trip is to be savored.

Along these lines, have fun preparing your child’s study area. It’s important to be sure that you child has a comfortable, quiet place to study (even for kindergarteners, most of whom have homework these days), and preparing that area can be exciting as school approaches. You may also want to get your routines ready; as you get back onto an earlier schedule, have your kids start laying out their clothes the night before, keeping their shoes by the door, and get back into other morning habits that help you get out the door with less hassle. This can help refine your routine, and make the back to school transition easier.

Talk Amongst Yourselves

One of the best ways to relieve back to school anxiety and prepare for the coming year is to simply talk to your child about what he or she may be feeling. When the subject of school comes up, let your child tell you what’s exciting about school as well as what may be a little anxiety-provoking. If your child expresses some negativity about school, don’t discount immediately his or her concerns; instead focus on validating feelings. Then you can help find solutions or shift the focus to a more positive one like seeing friends, covering exciting new material, and growing up. This can be an excellent time to discuss important topics like how to handle bullies, peer pressure, and other important topics. This can help your child feel more comfortable, and can help you clarify expectations and troubleshoot. Creating open lines of communication is always important, and letting your child know that you’ll be available for support and open discussions can be a crucial part of your relationship, as well as your child’s success in school.

Bottom Line

The main thing to remember in dealing with back to school jitters is to be prepared (mentally, logistically, and in all other ways as much as possible), and to play up the fun stuff (friends, new supplies, great teachers and growing up). If you show your enthusiasm for what the new school year brings, your kids are sure to pick up on it, and the nervous energy will turn into excitement. Have fun!

The Art of Letting Go

Every 24 hours we get a new day.  Every 7 days we get a new week.  Every 52 weeks we get a new year.  Regular and frequent new starts abound.  But do they do any good if we don’t know how to let go of the past.  We human beings do a great deal of things by reasoning them out.  Some things we do intuitively.  But many people seem to be at a loss on how to let go of the past.  Let me offer a few tips.

Choosing Words over thoughts

It seems that few people realize that spoken words have authority over silent thoughts.  Ultimately as a man thinks, so is he.  However, what you say out loud can control how you think.  It is very difficult, if now impossible to think one thing while saying another.  Many motivational speakers promote self talk for behavior modification and reaching life goals.  I know from personal experience that it works.  My advice is not to wonder or try to figure out how or why it works.  Just be glad that it works.  Let your words paint a bright future for yourself.  And do it so consistently that you have no time for looking back and holding on to your past.

Be an Encourager

What you give away to others gets multiplied back to you.  Ever word of encouragement that you give to others is a seed sown for your own harvest.  If you encourage others with a positive word concerning their future, then that’s what you will reap.

Practice Forgiveness

Another skill to develop in the art of letting go is giving others a new start.  If you are having a hard time letting go of your past, why not start by giving someone else a new start through forgiveness.  Again I say, what you give away to others gets multiplied back to you. 

Here’s a scripture to consider that has been often applied to finances, but applies to all areas, including forgiveness and encouragement.

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.