GET UP! Keep going!

  • July 30, 2009 9:14 am
Fasting Facts

 
 
Dear Friend,

Get Up!  Keep Going.
 
When the Prophet Nathan approached King David about his actions in the murder of Uriah and adultery with Bathsheeba (2 Samuel 12), he ended their discussion by imparting God’s forgiveness to David, but also telling him that the son born out of his act of adultery would die (2 Samuel 12:13-14).
 
Understanding the seriousness of this situation, David went before the Lord in prayer and fasting and tears, and lay prostrate on the ground for a full week. However, just as Nathan had said, the baby died.  Upon the child’s death, David immediately got up, pulled himself together and went to worship.  David also began to eat again.  When you read the bible account you get the feeling that this really puzzled the people around David, who thought he got things backwards.  Afterall, shouldn’t he cease from eating now that the child has died?
 
Here’s what David said: “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, thinking, ‘Who knows, maybe the LORD will be gracious to me so the child may live.’ But now that he has died, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?” (2 Samuel 12:22-23)
 
When you really think about these words of David, there is deep revelation in his statement. Sometimes, no matter how unfair it seems, things die.  We go to God in fasting and praying, hoping there will be mercy and miracles in the middle of whatever we “messed up.”  But, sometimes, God’s will is for that thing (the manifestation of our sin) to die. 
 
David was fasting and weeping out of love for the child that his sin had created. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I’m sure David had come to hate the choices that got him to that dark moment. He had mourned.  He had grieved.  He had felt the pain of what might have been, but he got up and went on.  He returned to his call to lead the nation of God’s chosen people. Furthermore, he brought comfort to Bathsheba who was also in pain.  For David, the season had shifted. The time for fasting had come to a close. The season for living and leading was at hand. 
 
For me, there is something very beautiful and supernatural about the way this story ends.  Once David had set his heart right with the Lord, God straightened everything out. (Luke 3:5b — The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.)  The Lord took a relationship that looked twisted to everyone else and made it straight.  From this new position of grace, David and Bathseeba had another child named Solomon.
 
What is it that you are facing today?  Has sin or wrong choices brought heart-break to you?  Take a lesson from David — get on the floor and fast before God.  Decompress.  Release your pain and frustration into the hand of God.  Then, no matter what it looks like, get up.  Move on with God.  Trust that God will turn things around and make all things new. 
 
Romans 8:28 — And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.  
 

Are you thinking about fasting?  Read on —

How Scriptural is Fasting?

 

Lori GreenwoodThere are nearly 70 references to fasting in the Bible.  Each week, I’ll share a few verses with you.  Searching the bible will help you discover more about fasting for yourself. 

 

Last week we looked at 2 Samuel 11:11 and 2 Samuel 12:16-17. Here are a few more:

 

1 Kings 13:8-24 — The prophet who cried at the altar of Bethel


But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’ ”So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel. Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” ”I am,” he replied. So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.”  The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’ ” The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (But he was lying to him.) So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house. While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.’ ” When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was thrown down on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it.

 
 

Get more fasting information next week by subscribing to Fasting Facts!
 

Blessings,

  
 
Lori Greenwood
 

 

fasting  Interested in learning more about fasting?  www.lorigreenwood.org

Headed to Your Destination

  • July 28, 2009 6:53 pm

Are You on the Right Road?

  

One summer, I was traveling through the Midwest with my daughters.  On one particular day, the schedule required us to drive from North Dakota to the upper peninsula of Michigan.  Not quite sure how to get there, we plugged a portable navigational device into the car’s lighter port.  In a few moments, the navigational device was talking to us in a female voice with a British accent!  One of the first directions “she” gave us instructed us to pull off the highway and head down a small country road.  In a matter of moments, the navigational tool instructed us to turn onto a dirt road in the middle of two corn fields.  I was convinced that I was on the wrong road!  I started talking back to that little device.  “You better know where you’re taking me!?!!”  Well, believe it or not, it wasn’t long until we were out of the corn fields, off the dusty road and on the road to our destination.  Along the way I missed a few turns, but it never disturbed our navigator.  She simply informed us that she was “recalculating,” and then plotted a new route to get us back on the road to our destination.  There is a great spiritual lesson in all of this:
 
Today, no matter what it looks like, God’s Spirit will lead you back to the right road.  All you need to do is ask Him to get you to your destination!   
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 25:4-5 — Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in
your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 27:11 — Teach me your way, O LORD; lead in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Matthew 7:13-14 — Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad  is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Psalm 119:105 — Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 

lori Wishing you a day of smooth sailing!
 

Lori Greenwood, ThD

Join our email list at www.lorigreenwood.org

 

Step Above

  • July 27, 2009 9:13 am

Ask the Lord and He will show you ways to overcome the difficulties you face.  To fully receive this wisdom you must step above the feelings of oppression and doubt.  Rise-up in the realm of the Spirit, and ground yourself in the trust that God is with you to bring you through everything.  God understands you.  He is not confused.  He sees you and He knows you.

Luke 11:9 — And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Mark 10:27 — But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

God is unfolding a season of blessing, yet there are those who may miss it!  Miss it?  Yes.  Some may refuse to enter in to the blessing because of doubt and unbelief.

Hebrews 3:18-19 — And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Only Truth Can Open the Door

Deception. Confusion. Doubt.  All these (and more) are the smoke screens that the devil has to work with.  If he can blow this “smoke” in your eyes, you may have a hard time seeing where you’re going.  When you cannot see, there are two key factors you will need to move ahead.  They are faith and truth.

Faith:

To get through the smoke screen, you will need to walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 — For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Truth:

When the devil throws deception and confusion your way, you must move by your knowledge of the Word of God.  Let the truth of the Word be as stable, solid bedrock underneath your feet.Luke 6:47-48 — Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Reassure yourselves in God’s Word. It is true — and only the truth shall set you free. Truth will open the door to everything that God has promised you.

John 8:32 — And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
So, step above the chaos! Keep climbing. Go ahead take another step. Refuse to quit. Endure everything that comes, knowing that you will end up on top!

Romans 5:3-5a — 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; James 1:3-4 – Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Step-up church.

God is calling you to victory! 

Love & Blessings,

Lori Greenwood, ThD

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First Things First

  • July 26, 2009 7:23 pm
Today may not be completely perfect. Challenges are likely to arise. They may be at home, on the job, in relationships with others, or in projects or work goals that you need to accomplish. Often, in our haste to put the fire out, we fail to ask God to step into our crisis-of-the-moment. But God’s desire is to be with us in each and every minute. His Holy Spirit is available to lead and guide us through anything and everything that comes. Today, remember to put first things first. Stop. Pray. Speak to God, and then react to the situation with His help and wisdom.

James 5:16 — THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.

1 John 5:14-15 — NOW THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM.

lori Enjoy your day!
Lori Greenwood

 

 
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Did You Hear Something?

  • July 24, 2009 8:36 am

Did You Hear That?

Do you hear His voice? Can you discern the direction of the Spirit? Are you feeling a bit restless down in your soul?  Listen up!  Listen to what God is saying.  He is willing and just waiting to release a fresh anointing into your situation. Do you feel the vigor and energy of the moving of His Holy Spirit?  Go ahead and kick the distractions out of the way.  Let God stir the gifts that have gone dormant inside you.  Then move by faith and demonstrate His power and love to those around you.
 
2 Timothy 1:6-7 — Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

lori Wishing you a day of smooth sailing!
 

Lori Greenwood, ThD

www.lorigreenwood.org

 

Love Believes the Best

  • July 20, 2009 4:30 pm
Love Believes the Best
 

Dear Friend,

There are many feelings and emotions found within the human experience that are often identified as love. But, true love is divine. It is completely different from friendship, lust, or even companionship. This divine love is unconditional and all encompassing — it sees through God’s eyes. Love overlooks personalities and conflicts and honors the gesture of the heart. Love believes the best in everyone and strives for unity. Afterall, how will the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ walk in unity? By loving each other.
The scriptures proclaim that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The Father sent Jesus to wash away the sins of the entire world by His death on the cross of calvary. By descending into hell to defeat the devil, resurrecting in glory, and bringing His perfect blood to the heavenly Mercy Seat, Jesus fulfilled the ultimate act of love — establishing a new covenant in the earth. To this very day He holds out His hand in love to any and all who will come into newness of life. But, as we read and meditate on His Words, we understand that the love story continues on:
 
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
 
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)
 
“If you love me, keep my commandments.”  (John 14:14)
 
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
 
God is love. To walk in unity, we must walk in love. We cannot separate the two. There is power in unity — and it is called, “love.”

 

_____________

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_____________Dr. Greenwood
 
Enjoy your day!
"Lori"
 
Lori Greenwood, ThD
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Overcome the World

  • July 18, 2009 10:35 am

 

 

 

 

In those moments when it seems that the trial is over-taking you, and you long for a little peace, turn to Jesus and His unchanging Word, and over-turn the situation
John 16:33 — THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, THAT IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE, IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.
1 Samuel 26:24 — LET MY LIFE BE VALUED MUCH IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND LET HIM DELIVER ME OUT OF ALL TRIBULATION.
Romans 8:35 — WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION,OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD?

1 Corinthians 14:33 — FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION BUT OF PEACE.
Philippians 4:6-7 — BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD; AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. Amen.

 

 

 

lori Wishing you a day of smooth sailing!

 

 
 Lori Greenwood, ThDwww.lorigreenwood.org

 

 

Make the Choice

  • July 16, 2009 11:36 am

Opposition, hostility, criticism and adversity have come against you — and your flesh and emotions have felt the attack.  Now, you must make the choice to step above these issues and feelings.  Allow the Spirit of God to correct your focus so that your emotional reactions come under control. Hold on to your peace.
 
Romans 8:31 — What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
 
Proverbs 4:23 — Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
 
Isaiah 26:3 — Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

lori Wishing you a day of smooth sailing!
 

Lori Greenwood, ThD

More teaching material available at: http://www.lorigreenwood.org/bookstore.html

 

True Unity

  • July 14, 2009 6:35 pm

 

Unity of the Faith  
 
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” — Ephesians 4:13

While I believe the Apostle Paul would look favorably upon building transformational networks that promote Kingdom values, he had more than just “networking” in mind when he penned the words: “unity of the faith.” Paul was not calling for a structural or organizational unity, but a spiritual unity built around a common faith.

Do the Math

Let me break-down Ephesians 4:13 just a bit:
a. Till we all come to the unity of the faith
b. And of the knowledge of the Son of God
c. To a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Basically, a + b = c.  Another way to say it would be, Unity + Knowledge = Perfection (I’m not trying to over simplify things, but its not complicated either.) This same theme is echoed in 2 Peter 1:1, which says, I am writing to all of you who share the same precious faith we have, faith given to us by Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, who makes us right with God. Essentially, Peter wrote this to believers in the transformation network of his day. The point he is making is that the glue that holds them together is faith anchored in the knowledge of the Son of God.

 
Peter called this true unity of the faith, precious.

Closer Than You Think…

  • July 13, 2009 9:28 am

Your miracle is closer than you think!  Be watching for God’s mercy to move in your life today. 

 
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. — Psalm 145:18

Bartimaeus began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” — Mark 10:47,49

 

lori Wishing you a day of smooth sailing!
Lori Greenwood, ThD

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