Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

WHAT DO YOU WANT AND WHAT DO YOU WANT IT FOR?

2/28/2017

Where is your passion? Your Passion is where your priority is!!!!

Yesterday I began sharing about the difference between Performers and Reformers and this week I will continue to share on the subject.

When you quit practicing what you know and what God calls you to do, you lose your passion.

Our example is King David. That’s when most of us start to CRY OUT, when we have lost our priority and and find we have misplaced our passion.

Lust and Pure Passion differ in what we birth. One lives and one dies.

King David quit running to the battle and started running from it.

He lost the passion of the kid in the pasture when he found himself in the palace.

Comfort silences the cry of a performer-it’s a megaphone for a reformer!!!

The question then is do we have the character to receive what we cry out for?

Do we have the kind of character that God can trust to take us places?

Some have lost their passion on a lower level so God in His mercy won’t let them go to a higher level.

People thought Jabez was crazy… People thought John the Baptist was crazy.

We all have a little crazy but some people get a subscription. I personally am a subscriber for life.

A reformer is someone who brings about reformation. A reformer is someone who changes things. The word reform means "to shape again." Reformers are those who reshape the individuals, families, churches, cities, regions and nations over which God has given them influence. Not everyone is going to want to subscribe to a life like this.

Think about John Knox: He prayed, fought and persevered for almost 15 years until he saw Scotland set free from religious oppression.

God used John Knox to bring reformation to his nation.

Think about Martin Luther: Four hundred ninety-nine years ago, Luther forever changed the church, his city and his nation. Martin Luther reshaped so much that we are still talking about him today.

In this hour, God is looking for people who are ready to reform and not perform.

Reformer or Performer

2/27/2017

God is in the recruiting business and He is looking for "Reformers" not "Performers".

Performers are doing what they know... and reformers are changing people and cities... because they know Him.

John the Baptist was a REFORMER!!! He was the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.

There are a lot of stories in the Bible where people cry out.

This week I will be sharing about some of those that "Cried Out!" to God and God heard them. Today we will look at Jabez.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10(KJV) "9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

Here is the hearts cry of Jabez, “Make me bigger than what I am….Make me bigger than where I’ve come from…let me know you’re with me."

The NKJ translates grieve here in verse 10 to pain.

Don’t let me live in what I came from….

The key word here is HONORABLE.

This means he had the right heart. He was worthy of honor. So God could honor him and it wouldn’t ruin him. He cried out to God for the right thing. For the right reason.

He didn’t want pain in his future. He is telling us:
“I have only known pain”
“I came from pain”
“Make me bigger and better than what I’ve come from”

Maybe you are here and you know what it is to be Jabez.You relate to Jabez. All you’ve know is pain. You grew up in pain.

You were born in pain:
Adopted Orphaned
Addicted Abandoned
An Accident Poor
Crippled Sick
Unwanted …………

Jabez wasn’t just satisfied with getting his needs met.He didn’t want to settle for mundane or status quo.

Jabez wanted a reformed life. Tomorrow we will look more at this subject but remember this: You do not have to live the life you came from. Cry out to God today and He will hear your cry for He is no respecter of persons.

It's In The Bag-5 Smooth Stones

2/24/2017

I am convinced if the Church went back to the main task of proclaiming the Gospel it would see people being converted to Christ, and it would have a far greater impact on the social, moral, and psychological needs of people more than anything else it could possibly do. Some of the greatest social movements of history in this country have come about as a result of people being converted to Christ." - Billy Graham

It's in the bag! We have all heard it but what does it really mean?

1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV) "40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Ephesians 4:11 (NKJV) "11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,"

Starting the first Wednesday night in March at Restoration Church International at 7PM I am beginning a New Series called, "It's In The Bag". Go to www.restorationchurchintl.org for more information. Come find out why 5? Why smooth stones? What was the purpose of the bag? What are the symbolisms in this scripture and what does it have to do with us today?

Your Rest Stop

2/23/2017

While meditating on what I'm going to share with the attendees on my way to a Women's Conference, I pulled up along side a Cracker Barrel truck. This is the sign on the back of that truck.

When I saw it I thought it really matters where and what you eat. Then I thought about the name of our church Restoration Church International. Your "Restoration Stop". That's when I felt the Lord say, "Where and what people eat really matters, it can restore of destroy." A friend of mine said, "You are actually (Meals on Wheels) today. A meal waiting to happen." We laughed, but it's true. The word of God is our bread of life.

Just like seed going into the ground has to go through a process from sprout to full corn in the ear, the word of God in me has been growing for some time. I am ready to serve a meal tomorrow, but in order for it to be received people have to come and come hungry. If you want what is on the menu then you have to read it and place your order. Only on Sunday's does Cracker Barrel have Sunday Chicken. Seriously, when I want to really indulge I go to Cracker Barrel on Sundays and order up. I am never disappointed. I get what I order.

Matthew 7:7 (NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

When was the last time you made an order with the Lord? What would you like to have Him serve you? Are you lacking spiritual energy? Are you eating to live or living to eat? He is willing to give you fresh Manna everyday. He desires that you be physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally strong.

Your "Rest Stop" can be your restoration stop. The choice is up to you.
When was the last time you made an order with the Lord? What would you like to have Him serve you? Are you lacking spiritual energy? Are you eating to live or living to eat? He is willing to give you fresh Manna everyday. He desires that you be physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally strong.

Your "Rest Stop" can be your restoration stop. The choice is up to you.

When your packing for the future.

2/22/2017

Mark 13:33-37 (NKJV) "3 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

As I prepare for an upcoming trip, I am thinking about what I will be doing? How long I will be gone? What I might need while there? What will the weather be like? Based on these questions and the answers I formulate what I will begin packing and checking off my list.

Here I am trying to figure out how to take my Daily Devotion materials, my Bible, my shoes, my other shoes, and my other shoes. The list goes on. The pile is growing and I am seriously wondering how I am going to get it all in the car. I am only going to be gone a few days, it's not eternity I'm packing for!

As we travel through life we carry suitcases. And at the end of our lives what we have stored in those suitcases determine where we go and what our rewards are.

God is always ready to exchange that suitcase full of heartache and sin.(Even Wal-Mart won’t exchange damaged stuff). But, God will take you just as you are. He will fill you with joy, peace, and happiness. Not saying that everything will be smooth but you can know that you don’t have to go through it alone and that Jesus has won all the battles for us. When you stand before God in judgment, you will hear the words "Well Done, thou good and faithful servant."

Friends, make sure when your journey is over and you come to the end...that you have packed everything you were supposed to. Don’t just THINK it is there, KNOW it is there!! As I ask you one last time. WHAT ARE YOU PACKING IN YOUR SUITCASE????

I want to pack faith, integrity, and character. I want to be sure I pack obedience. I want to pack the word of God. I want to pack love for myself and others. I'm sure there are things that I wished I would have packed and didn't or things I didn't even know I needed. Here on earth I can run to Walmart, in heaven it will be too late to do any running.

My prayer is that when I see you there I will hear you say, "I got it, thanks for the encouragement."

One of the many challenges of life: To agree or disagree?

2/21/2017

I once heard someone say, "If we were the same, one of us would not be needed." I found this humorous and laughed. After really thinking about it, I thought it might be better than being so different. I know from experience as well as education that opposites attract. Then after they get married they repel. Try to tell that to two people in love and they will tell you that will never happen to them (until two years later when they come visit me at my office).

Just because someone has a better idea or a different way of seeing things does not mean their way is wrong; better said, it doesn't make them wrong. We must get past the feelings of insecurity and right and wrong and get back to the principles of the Bible.

When the Bible doesn't say something, it still says something. A life without prayer is a life without power. If someone reads the Bible, sooner than later they will begin to develop a prayer life because we will not agree with everything the Word of God says. However, the Word is right and we are not, so it is up to us to change. Prayer facilitates that change.

So in any relationship we must appreciate the similarities and respect the differences. This is tested in marriage possibly more so than any other relationship. What makes it crucial in marriage is we must find some common ground because walking away is not an option.

John 15:13 (NIV) "13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) "2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

Coming into agreement

2/20/2017

It always amazes me how different personality types come into agreement. I am writing from my perspective today but will get into this more as the week progresses. I personally do not like conflict. By nature I am an Idealist and would prefer everyone to get along and be happy. However by gifting, I am highly administrative. By birth order, I'm the oldest so I tend to take charge and have a high sense of responsibility. I also am female and I realize that means I am to submit. Now I'm sure as you read this some of you are saying, "Yeah, me too." Others of you are saying, "Whoa, not me." Still there are those of you reading are like, "So what?"

The point I am wanting to share is that when it comes to agreement, it is easier said than done. We don't even need the devil to get involved to disagree we do a pretty good job in our own human nature. Yet God tells us in His word there is power in agreement.

Matthew 18:19 (NIV) ""Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

When we depend on God and trust that if we go to Him in prayer and ask Him for help in all our decisions there is wisdom to make decisions that can be a win/win. It is when we are selfish and want our own way that we begin to have conflict and strife. There may be times we have to table a discussion and just decide to agree to disagree. There is nothing wrong with taking a break until both parties calm down and then coming at it again at a later date.

It took my husband and I two years to decide on a couch. Two years. Many times I wanted to just throw in the towel and say, "Just get what ever you want." On the other hand I had done that in my marriage in the past and then had to live for years with things I didn't like. This time I was older and wiser and was willing to hold out as long as needed until we found something we could agree on.

The funny thing to me is once we agreed on that we have recently made three more major decisions and they were all made within a matter of minutes. What was the difference? I believe that we won the battle with the devil concerning getting us over into strife. Now I realize there is still a war but we won a few battles and we will continue to fight.

Sometimes you have got to trust others know more than you do.

2/17/2017

“Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” - Jeremiah 32:17

It would be great if whatever we needed could get supernaturally downloaded in us. If we needed to learn how to fly a helicopter, we just call on the higher power and say download me with the information I need to fly this thing. Then in a few seconds we got the information and we take off flying. It would be great if all of life could be like that including Marriage.

Well I have news for you. The Matrix exist and it was popular long before the hit TV series. God tells us in His Word to renew our minds daily with the word of God. We are to have the mind of Christ. When Jesus returned to His Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth. We are being led if we allow ourselves to be either by the devil or by the Holy Spirit. The choice is ours.

Tonight starts our bi-annual Marriage and Singles Seminar and I am so excited. If you haven't registered to come just do so at the door (2198 Blue Horizon Dr, Morgantown, WV 26501). No matter what challenges you face God is bigger! His Word-the Bible has the answer to all the questions or life. Somethings you can't find out about on Google. God has a Matrix and you and I have not experienced those Episodes yet. God has plans for us but we've got to learn to trust Him. Trusting Him takes time spent with Him.

Joshua 24:15 (TLB) "15 But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Wise people have problems. Foolish people have patterns.

2/16/2017

As a child I grew up hearing my parents say, "First time shame on them, second time shame on me." I never understood what they were talking about. Usually it happened after they purchased something or dealt with someone. I have lots of sayings I tucked away from my childhood. However many are not suitable for this Blog. Now you are all smiling because you are thinking of all the saying you heard as a child that aren't able to be shared either. Right?

Here is my point. Things are going to happen to us in life. Some are fair and well deserved and some are just plain unfair. However, if we get burned by touching the stove we should learn--don't touch the stove.

Proverbs 9:8 (NLT) "So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you."

No one wants to see people get hurt. If it is within ones power to help another. If we are honest and dealing with healthy people we know this to be true. The problem arises when I tell people over and over again what the Lord says in His word and people still go touch the stove. It used to really hurt my heart that they got burnt yet again. I thought well maybe they were deceived. Perhaps it was an accident? Now that I am older and wiser I realize, that many wanted what they wanted more than they wanted right and what God wanted. The devil will give you what you think you want, but what you think can be from the flesh which is of our fallen nature not our Spirit which communes with God. If we want to make right decisions we must operate out of our spirit man.
For more on this subject order LIVESTRONGER CD Series from our bookstore or listen free from this site: http://mp3streaming.online/download/song/playlists/170111-rena-perozich-live-stronger-part-2/

Hebrews 11:25 (KJV) "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

Train your body to listen to the voice of God regardless of who it comes through.
Do not allow the devil to burn you twice!

Intimacy means in to me see. Who do you allow to see you and who do you see?

2/15/2017

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. For some it was a great day, for others it was a sad or disappointing day. What was the difference? The difference was whether or not they shared intimacy with another person. For all of us that "other person" can be God. He is as close as the mention of His name and He will never leave you or forsake you. You are always on His mind.

I truly missed my Dad. My entire life Daddy always bought me a gift. Usually Daddy bought me a heart shaped box of candy. I didn't need it. Most of the time it looked much better than it tasted but it was from his heart to mine. I had been on his mind. He thought of me. He purposely went out and picked that heart shaped box of candy just for me.

I remember when my youngest daughter got her first job. She went and purchased a Valentine's Day package for her Daddy and I at the best hotel in town. She was so thoughtful and to this day we still talk about it. It meant something to her and it touched our hearts deeply.

Valentine's Day is not just for lovers, it is for those who love.

I pray you had a great day. We only get so many Valentines Days in a life time so we need to make them count. So plan next year to celebrate your friends, your parents, your grandparents, your kids, those you work with. It's not the amount of money you spend it is the thought that went into the gift.

Those who know the Lord have a sense of desperation for fellowship with him. He has become their daily bread. He is not a priority; he is the priority. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple,” David wrote in Psalm 27:4 (NIV). Paul stated his priority by saying everything in my life is rubbish compared to knowing Jesus.

There have been times in my life when God became a priority because I felt desperate for him. I have experienced a voracious hunger for his presence—like I can’t get enough. While these seasons are very precious to me, I’ve also learned not to base the priority of Jesus on my feelings. I still want to make him my priority even during “dry spells” in which it’s a labor of love to get up early to seek him.

Sometimes I seek out of desperation, other times out of desire, and still others out of discipline. But always, I want to seek him.