EMBRACE YOUR WOMANHOOD!

I recently made the comment while preaching, that earlier that day I had a "PMS demon" following me around influencing my reactions and perceptions about my day. Every woman laughed as we had a true moment of womanhood together.

I love being really spiritual and preaching a powerful Word to women and then just interjecting something totally human and something totally woman. (I really think Jesus would appreciate that type of preaching. Just my opinion! But more so, I think my women appreciate it. ) It is at that moment in the height of my preaching, when they are just being "wow'd" at the depth of truth or the revelation that is coming out of my mouth, that moment when the great divide women put between each other appears that whispers "you are not like me therefore I can't open myself up totally to you,", is when the Spirit of God steps in saying "they need to know this powerful deep revelation is for them and not just you," and I get this analogy that is raw with reality - like a "PMS demon"!

So in honor of those moments, I just thought I would take a break from my deep and heavy WORDS in this blogspot and let this be an "embrace your womanhood" post (sorry guys). I'm sending this out to all the women out there with "PMS demons" and all that other girls stuff.

Quotes for you girls...

"Some days every woman you meet has the hair you want."

(Dee Ann Stewart)

"All we want is peace on earth, and really cute shoes" (Allyson Jones)

"Men cry, but only when assembling furniture" (Rita Rudner)

"I want my husband to take me in his arms and whisper those three little words that all women long to hear..."you were right" (Kelly Smith)

"Some days I feel I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, then on other days I feel like it's on my hips." (Robin St. James)

"I always keep three sizes of clothes in my closet..."normal days", "bloated days" and "those were the days". (Myra Zirkle)

"When life gets too hectic, I've always found that a nice hot bath can solve most problems, for everything else, there's denial" (Keely Chace)

Got any more womanhood quotes or thoughts? Just leave me a comment - who knows if I won't interject it in a spiritual moment of preaching!

PRIVATE WARS

For years I have enjoyed reading David Wilkerson's newsletter that come monthly in our mail. His pulpit series is always a profound and Word-oriented message. This month's message was a practical teaching called "The Private War Of The Saint", talking about the private and deeply painful things that believers go through even though they are Christians.
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As a Pastor who is privy to many personal battles that people face, battles that they secretly wage in their homes, their bodies, minds and emotions, I know that people struggle. People come to church presenting themselves well, but underneath they are truly fighting a war. Even I have come to church doing my assignment and inside a war was raging of discouragement or torment from a circumstance and no one had a clue.

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Look around you the next service you are in. The person next to you who shook your hand could be fighting for their life. That is such a sobering thought. The next question is what should we do about it or what CAN we do about it. Do you really want to know? Really? Alright then...here is the answer....PRAY.

Eph 6:11-13 12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
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Eph 6:1818
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
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Gal 6:1-2

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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This is exactly why at New Destiny International Church we have a corporate prayer meeting every Saturday night. We come together as a body not only to seek God for an outpouring of His Spirit and that His will and purpose be accomplished in our ministry, but to fight HELL! Those wars maybe private and hidden to other believers, but God by His Spirit is intimately aware of them all! During our corporate prayer there is often a leading of the Spirit of God to pray specifically toward one thing and I later find out that week that someone or some family was and is in the middle of that private war!

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This Saturday we will do it again. We will fight people's private wars in a public venue. The Bible tells us that..."Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Col 2:15) And the Church is enforcing His work and will every Saturday night at New Destiny.

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If you are in a private war, you are not really alone in there! We are fighting for you and with you! Take courage! Reinforcements are on the way! You will survive! There is a body of believers who are out diligently "saving Private Ryan!"

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To hear more about "Private Wars", join Pastor Carmen in her bible study Sunday night at 6 pm (10/28) or purchase the CD at the Media Center at NDIC .

WHO WILL SEEK ME?

"God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,

To see if there are any who understand, who seek God."

Ps 53:2

I write that scripture and my heart is overwhelmed. What does God see when He looks upon the earth? What is He looking for and at when He is watching man? He isn't just "monitoring" our whereabouts or our actions. This scripture makes it clear that God is looking in anticipation and expectation for something specific. He looks to see who "get's it".

If I have learned anything in life, it is the fact that some people "get it" and some people just don't. No matter how much they are taught and led and encouraged, you can't make someone be or do anything they don't desire. They either will "get" the truth or they will reject it. It is either "in them" to do it, or it's not. They either will connect with principals or they won't. Some people will reject truth, not "get it", but one day...something clicks and suddenly, they "get it." Such is the mystery of man-kind from my human perspective. And I see that God, even in His greatness looks down on man-kind with the same observation. He sees who is "getting it" and who just doesn't.

What is "getting it?" Well, the scriptures shows us here that "getting it" is having understanding. And we know from other scripture such as...

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Prov 4:4-74 ....He also taught me, and said to me:

"Let your heart retain my words;

Keep my commands, and live.

Get wisdom! Get understanding!Do not forget,

nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her,

and she will preserve you;Love her, and she will keep you.

Wisdom is the principal thing;Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

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We know as well, that those who have understanding and wisdom are those who fear and honor the Lord,

Ps 111:10...the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.

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So, from heaven the Lord looks to see if there be any who has understanding...because they are the ones who will seek God. Again, like I have said before, when you wittle all of life down, the most important element is seeking the Lord...your worship and connection with Him. And once again the scriptures make it clear.

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Is He looking for good works, success, buildings, money, etc? No, He is only looking for someone who will seek Him. He put us on this earth with the free will to seek Him or not. He allowed us the freedom to "get it" or not to "get it". I know that if God is looking for something, then He when He finds it, He will be pleased. If He finds one who will seek Him, then He will take pleasure in them and will reward them for their seeking.

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Heb 11:66...But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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The cry of God's heart is, "where are they that seek Me?"

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Jer 29:12-1412

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me,

and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me,

when you search for Me with all your heart.

I will be found by you, says the LORD