“A Servant Fits Anywhere.”  

This piece of advice is a great one for you but also for the entire family.  Start early letting children know, “A servant fits anywhere.”  Too many children as well as adults feel as if they don’t fit in.  Many concern themselves with where they’re from, what they do and who they are when in fact the only thing that matters is whose they are.

See Jesus is the greatest servant that ever lived.  We are to be changing into His image—therefore we ought to look more like Him every day. So if you don’t know how to behave at a dinner party, be a servant. If you question how to be a good friend ask yourself what would Jesus do. Want to be a great spouse serve your husband or wife.  Setting an example is a way of planting seed for your future. Others see you serve and it motivates them to serve as well.

Mark 10:45 (KJV) “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” 
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John 12:26  (KJV) “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

“Wait 24 hours before getting mad and reacting about anything. If it doesn’t bother you in 24 hours’ time, it probably isn’t important enough to get mad over.” 

This is probably one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received and the one I have heeded the least.  When I’m mad—well I’m made.  I am still working on all 9 of those Fruits of the Spirt but some are a little slow growing. If you know of any miracle grow for the gift of Patience, Long-Suffering, and Meekness please send some my way.

Most people that know me think I am not the hot headed type and for the most part that is correct. However, if I do get heated I can blow up fairly quickly only to regret my behavior later. I like the visual of a Tea Kettle when the whistle blows you can’t take it back. The steam emitted from a tea kettle may not be easily seen but it burns none the less and sometimes leaves a scar.

Regardless of the reason for anger, the Bible has answers on what causes anger, examples of good (righteous) and bad (unrighteous) anger and how we should deal with it as Christians. Our earnest prayer should be that God changes our heart as we allow Him to mold us into a vessel fit to carry His gospel to the world.
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Psalms 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!  Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
 
Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,  but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
 
Proverbs 29:22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
 
Proverbs 30:33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
 
Proverbs 14:16,17 (KJV) A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
 
Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
 
Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

“Your problems are your privileges”

You and I hear every day a lot of people complaining about their problems. Some days I can be very compassionate other days I want to scream, “You are so blessed to have that problem!”  Allow me to explain.
Having a bad hair day? At least you have hair.  Ask a bald man or better yet a bald woman or the mother of a bald child if they would love to have a bad hair day.  They would be happy just to have hair! You are blessed to have that problem.

Ahhh you say car is broke. I’m so sorry—but you do have a car.  Only 9% of the people in the world own a car! You are blessed to have that problem. You have to stop and get gas! No you get to stop and get gas because you are blessed enough to own a car.

Ugh I have to clean my house.  It’s filthy. Only 7% of the world’s population even owns a home. Be glad you are in the 7%. You don’t have to clean your house—you get to clean your house!
Yes your problems are your privileges.  Your kids “driving you nuts!”  There was an estimated 48.5 million infertile couples worldwide in 2010.  Some parents would welcome being driven nuts by at least one child in their empty home.

I think you get the point by now.  Your legs killing you—the privilege of having legs!  Thank God for all of your problems! They are the results of being blessed.

Through all the hard times God has never forsaken me. Trust in Him with all your heart. Jesus said you will have peace through Him in your trials. The reason we are so worried sometimes is because a lack of a prayer life. Build your prayer life! Continually talk to God, thank Him, and ask Him for help. Fast and instead of thinking about your problems keep your mind on Christ.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
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Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

“If you make your bed you have to sleep in it.”
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You made a decision and now you must accept its consequences.
This expression is commonly used as a response to people who have been complaining about problems they have brought on themselves.  Like if you lay down with the dogs you get their fleas.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (NIV) “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

In order to get to our destinations, we must make sure we’re on the right road. And, we need to follow the One who longs to give direction to our life. 
Proverbs gives us some practical help in knowing, doing, and enjoying the will of God for our lives. We must exhibit both faith and commitment as we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and listen to the wisdom of others.

Referring to God’s words of wisdom, Proverbs 6:22 puts it this way, “When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.” The Word of Guide guides us, protects us, and speaks to us. In other words, the Bible has already revealed God’s will in most of the situations in life. 

Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
 
 

This week I am starting a series on “The Best Advice I’ve Ever Received.”  I know right? I mean we are all different and I am sure that we could all make our own list.  I hope you will post this to Face Book and add your best advice too.  Tell your friends to get in on this and let’s see what we can come up with.

“Don’t bit off more than you can chew.”
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I didn’t even know what this meant. I thought I was supposed to take small bites while eating. Although l know that is true I’ve come to understand the meaning behind the saying. Don’t start something and not be able to finish it. Get your facts. Know what you are in for before you start to tackle a job. I remember once redoing my closet.  I figured I could do it in a couple of hours. It took me 8 days.  If you don’t what it takes to do a job you may be biting off more than you can chew. 

This phrase is often used to discourage people from accepting or agreeing to more responsibility than they are able to manage. 

Luke 14:28 NIV “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
 
 

The word sound does not just mean noise of racket.
It means PROCLAMATION. It's a decree in the spirit realm.

I hear the sound of the abundance of rain. What is the rain to you? The rain is Gods power visiting your life in whatever area or areas are in drought, or in lack, or broken or empty.

The rain is God taking every plan, every plot and every scheme and every weapon that the devil has launched at you and turning it around for your good.

The simplest definition of all is just answered prayer.

The rain was on the way but there was work to be done.  Ahab went to play and Elijah went to pray.

For every miracle, every breakthrough, every prodigal who comes home, every son or daughter who is delivered from drugs and perversion somebody has to pray.

Elijah got himself in the birth position (head between his knees) and began to labor in prayer for what he heard in the Spirit.

He sent his servant out to look toward the sea for an answer.  The sea represents the word of God.  You have to get your eyes on the word.

His servant returns the answer. I’m looking but I don’t see any evidence of an answer to your prayer.  But Elijah just keeps on praying, he sends his servant back to the sea and while the servant is running Elijah is praying.

You just have to keep on praying. When you have a word from God in your spirit you just have to keep on praying.

Daniel prayed for 20 days with no evidence whatsoever that God had heard him, but on the 21st day the breakthrough came, Michael the warring angel broke into the battle and Gabriel got the message through.
God will do whatever it takes to get it to you, if you don’t quit!

Keep on praying, keep on praising, keep on confessing, keep on tithing, and sowing, and singing and dancing. Don’t let the devil see you sweat.
Delay is not denial. Abraham was delayed 25 years but not denied.  Joseph was delayed 15 years but not denied.
Lazarus was delayed for 4 days but not denied.

Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: (though it tarry) wait for it because it will surely come , it will not tarry.

Num 23:19 God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent: if he said it he will do it and if he hath spoken it, he will bring it to pass.

Every time you pray you are putting pressure on the spirit realm and you are filling with expectancy the clouds that are bringing your blessings.

We don’t pray because we feel like it, we don’t pray just because it’s the Christian thing to do, or because it sounds like a good idea. We pray because we have an objective that can only be reached and can only be won and conquered through prayer.

Elijah was praying head between his knees. Prayer is serious business and hard work. Somebody said one time, “Many Christians pray with such luke-warmness and indifference and uncertainty that they wouldn’t even recognize the answer to their prayer when it came.”

Elijah’s servant has brought back another negative report, but Elijah keeps praying. Go back to the sea look again--spend some more time in the word, then come tell me what you see.

On the 7th time the servant comes back with the report. “Behold there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea.” In other words, “There was a little word that came up to me.” A word from the word. A Rhema word. A specific word, for a specific purpose, for a specific time.All you need is a word. If you’ve got a word you can make it through the storm. If you’ve got a word you can dance in the fiery furnace. If you’ve got a word you can sleep like a baby in a den of lions. If you’ve got a word you can beat the famine with a little meal and a little oil. If you’ve got a word you can walk on water.

It was so small, like a man’s hand. It didn’t look like much but Elijah’s faith grabbed hold of it. There’s something about faith that lets you see the greatness in little things. Faith can see a weapon of mass destruction in the jawbone of an ass. Faith can see a meal for a multitude in a sack lunch. Faith can see an oil business in a room full of empty jars. Faith can see a king in a simple smelly shepherd boy.

The servant saw a little cloud but Elijah saw a river filling, ground soaking, drought busting rainstorm.

I don’t care how big the problem may seem to you, or how long is has existed, the promises of God come in concentrated form and one little word from God will set you free, and will destroy that thing forever.

Jesus said all it takes is faith like the size of a mustard seed and you can command mountains to jump into the sea and they will have to go.

Masters see more than servants can, or they would not be masters.
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So Elisha tells his servant, "Go again"; seven times, as though he said, “Do not interrupt me with thy 'Nothings!' Come and tell me when there is “Something” and the seventh time he saw the little cloud. Some of us have looked from the hill, over the sea, in a far off tropical land, and have seen that same little cloud many a time, as it spread all over the sky, and soon there was rain enough to stop the traveler.  God is faithful.

Psalms 36:5 NIV “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.”

What did that little cloud mean?  It meant (Rain).

It meant--life, recovery restoration, the rivers will run again, fish will be caught again, the crops will grow again, there will be joy where there has been sorrow, there will be laughter where there has been weeping.

God said to prophesy to you and tell you it is getting ready to rain, the rain is on its way, I hear the abundance of rain.

That may not mean anything to some of you, but for somebody listening to His voice it means everything. Help is on the way, the answer is on the way, the breakthrough is on the way. There's just something powerful about knowing that it's on the way that puts a fire back in your belly and a fight in your spirit, it gives you the strength to hold on.

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) “10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,”
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E.M. Bounds, one of the greatest men of prayer that ever lived said: God does nothing except in answer to prayer.

So if things seem to be stagnating around you and nothing seems to be moving you better check your prayer temperature. 

Picking up where we left off yesterday Elijah and Ahab were in the midst of a 3 ½ year drought.  Rain was much needed, for famine stared them in the face. Isn’t that what Famine does? It is there staring at you all the time! The famine of Love, Relationships, Finances, Peace just to name a few are hard looks.
 
Ahab had walked many weary miles to seek grass for his horses; other men's cattle had perished, and if the drought had continued, everything would have died. But it was not Ahab who heard the sound of the rain. There was no sign of it. The heavens were as brass, the sky was without a cloud, everything was burned up with dry heat. “There is a sound of abundance of rain” said Elijah.
 
There are those who know of a coming Revival long before there is any sign. They have felt their prayers being answered, and have heard the sound of rain. It may not look like rain but something has changed and now they are just looking for their sign.
 
Ahab went up to eat and drink but Elijah went up to the top of Carmel which means place of harvest.  I take it he had been there before and planted abundant prayers and he was going up to get his harvest.
 
Don’t get weary if you have been planting prayers you will reap a harvest.  Just get into your prayer position and watch what God will do for He will not be mocked.
 
If you have heard a sound then hit your dry ground because it's about to rain!  

Galatians 6:9 (KJV)”9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 
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Galatians 6:7 (KJV) “7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” 

In the day and age in which we find ourselves much is competing for our ear.  Music, news, TV, radio, Internet all scream, “Do you hear what I hear?” Hearing and listening are two different things. We hear a lot of things because the sound vibrates within our ears but as sheep we should only follow what vibrates within our spirit.
Let me share with you the definition of the word Sound from Webster’s Dictionary:

• Free from injury or disease
• Free from flaw, defect, or decay
• Firm, solid, stable
• Free from error, fallacy or misapprehension
• Exhibiting or based on thorough knowledge and experience
• Logically valid, having true premises, views,

Examples of sound are: Sound judgement, sound advice, sound whipping, and sound reasoning….
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John 10:27 "The sheep that belong to Me listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me"
When a train is coming your way, you feel the vibrations before it arrives. When large hail is coming your way, hear it blocks away.

When 120 men and women had gathered in the upper room waiting for the promised power, the bible says: Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

There was a sound: The sound is an indication (Something is coming).

Suddenly cloven tongues as fire appeared on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I hear the sound of an abundance of rain: Elijah spoke those words in a place and a time where there had not been one drop of water from the sky or due on the ground, in 31/2 years.
What are you hearing? I’d love for you to leave a comment or start a conversation on Facebook about what you are hearing.

These truly are the days of Elijah.

When we finally admit we don’t know everything we can finally learn something. People older, wiser, who know God just a little bit better than us may tell us to do something, but if we can’t see it or understand the “why” do we hesitate?  I know, I have to resist that temptation.  I want to have all the details before I can buy in. That’s not how God works.  God works where we work our faith.  Elijah’s servant (who doesn’t even have a name) goes and looks for a cloud for his master—not once but seven times.  I don’t know about you but my patience would have grown thin after the third or fourth time. But the word of God tells us this “servant” just keep looking and finally found that cloud for his master.  Finding that cloud was just what the master wanted him to find knowing that if he found it, if he saw it his faith would arise. 
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I was meditating on this and the funniest thing came to my mind.  On the movie “Elf” when Buddy’s little brother Michael sees his skateboard and finds the book of all the good and naughty children his faith arises and the sled starts towards the sky. This purely fictional movie reminded me of what faith can do.  Faith may not make a sled fly but it can move a mountain!

Matthew 17:20 (TLB) 20 “Because of your little faith,” Jesus told them. “For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible.”
 
Get into the Word today and let that Word get in to you.  It will change your life and create an atmosphere change that may just take you to a different place or at the very least change the place you’re in.