Weapons in The Closet?!?!

Weapons in the closet?

Matthew 6:6

 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Last week, a man in southwest Houston had his home invaded while he was still there. I can imagine the trepidation that came over him as they forced their way in and attacked him. The story said that once the burglars grabbed the man, they dragged him upstairs, and shoved him into a closet.

Many people feel that they have been helplessly attacked. Their life has been abruptly interrupted and they have been thrown into a closet.

Yet, the very place people have shoved you to get rid of you, hide you, or belittle you can be your place of power.

After the homeowner was thrown into the closet, it didn’t take him long to realize which closet he was in. This wasn’t an ordinary coat closet – this was where he kept his weapons! He escaped from the closet with a renewed strength.

The bible teaches us to go to a secret place to pray. A place that is located behind a closed door. Don’t despise a closed door. It is behind that door, in the dark, that you will find your firepower. Whether you were involuntarily placed in that dark place or you walked there yourself - find God in that place and experience the life altering strength of your Father!

Here is the news story - http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9102486

Because I Said So!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that what you really want to do?!

Luke 6:46-49

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.[h] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.[i] And the ruin of that house was great.”

When did, “Because I said so” stop being good enough?

Discipline has always been an interesting topic in my family. My mom had a quick hand and did not tolerate my brother or I getting out of line. My father was stern and tough but never laid a hand on my brother or I. Not that one form of correction was better than the other. A child has to be corrected and you must use what works best for you and your child. My father has a deep baritone voice and a scowl that could strike fear into the boogey man. That was enough for me!

It’s funny that in my home we are repeating that same scenario. I am not the disciplinarian but mommy knows how to get it done. Recently my son woke up in the middle of the night screaming for attention. His mother went into his room, told him to go back to bed, and laid him back down. A short while later he yelled for his mom, she retorted, “Go to bed William!” He paused then repeatedly yelled, “Daddy!” She looked at me and said, “ You better not move! He has to learn.”

God gives us direction daily. But, when we aren’t comfortable with His direction, we tend to look for other solutions. He doesn’t want us to fail however gives us free will and He will chastise us for disobedience. The solution is easy. Listen to God’s direction and establish a firm foundation. Start listening and simply do what HE TELLS YOU TO DO! Your rear end and your life will thank you later.

I'm not Cocky... I'm CONFIDENT!

Get your swagger back!

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

I read a story by Luis Marquez that said:

A child is watching his team play baseball. A man walks up and asks, "How is the game?" The child replies, "We're losing 18 to 0." The man tells the child, "Oh, don't be discouraged." But he didn't expect the child's answer: "Why should I be discouraged? My team hasn't been up to bat yet!"

You were born with confidence and the ability to win in all circumstances. Somewhere along the way doubt and disbelief entered your psyche and planted stakes – today you must serve an eviction notice and remove the stakes.

I have never seen a game forfeited in the first quarter or ended in the first inning especially when the other team has the ability to play.

It doesn’t matter how far the others seem to be ahead of you or how far behind you think you are. When it is your turn, you must gather all of the GOD given confidence you have and DO WORK!

Remove complete self-reliance and trust the TRUE GAME CHANGER! You are next at bat, point to the fences, swing and connect!

“When I was a child my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll be the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

― Pablo Picasso

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

― Mahatma Gandhi