Beautiful Thoughts

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beautiful thoughts, God's thoughts are good, Good, peace, thoughts

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

God is a Father who never has a negative thought about His children.  His thoughts about us are always good.  And He loves to think about His children because it causes Him to rejoice.  Remember, how it was when you first fell in love?  How you thought of that person all the time and most of your thoughts where good?  Maybe you thought of a touch, an embrace or a kiss. Remember how the thoughts awaken and heighten your emotions so that they flowed through your body?  Well, just think if our thoughts can affect our emotions, how much more God’s thoughts affect His emotions?  After all we’re made in His imagine and likeness.  God feels what He thinks just as we do.  But unlike us His thoughts don’t come from the outside of Him, His thoughts come from Himself where there’s only love because He is Love.

So if you want to know what’s on the Father’s mind about you simply look at Jesus because He is the expression of all the thoughts and plans that God the Father had on His mind for His children.  Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Word of God are the beautiful thoughts of God for all mankind.

One day, God thought my children will need a place where I can come and visit with them so He expressed His thought by speaking His Word and creating the world.  Then He thought it’s not good that they be alone so I’ll make them male and female and together they will fill the earth.  Then again He thought because I know they won’t always obey my commandments they will need someone to deliver them from the penalty of sin.  So He thought I’ll give them my Son, my only begotten Son, to redeem them from death, and ransom their souls from the power of darkness. God’s thoughts towards us are always thoughts of peace and not evil to give us good in our final outcome because He loves us.

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Don’t Shake!

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Be of good cheer, cheer, confidence, don't shake, peace, Trials, tribulations

Have you ever noticed that whenever you’re faced with tribulations, trials, distresses and frustrations, that the last thing you think about is being of good cheer? More than likely, you think of everything but being of good cheer.  However, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you!]” (Amplified).

It is certain the reason we don’t think of being of good cheer is because it’s at those times that the devil attacks our minds with all sorts of lies.   You see, along with the tribulation, trial, distress and frustration is the thought that you won’t come out of it; that you’re going to die; that God can’t help you; that God doesn’t love you and a whole lot of other lies.  But it’s also at those times that we must esteem the word of God. In other words, we must let the word of God lead our minds not the lies of the enemy.  Notice, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.” It’s the words that Jesus has spoken to us about Himself that gives us peace and confidence in Him as we mediate upon them.  As we do we are able to be of good cheer.

Being of good cheer doesn’t necessarily mean having a warm fuzzy feeling inside, it means taking courage, being confident, certain and undaunted, it means DON’T SHAKE.  Why? Because Jesus has overcome whatever tribulation, trial, distress or frustration you’re facing.  He has overcome the world.  He has deprived it of power to harm us and has conquered it for us!  Therefore, when you know that something can’t hurt you, you can face it with no fear.  You can be of good cheer!

Challenge to Peace

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challenge, deborah chandler ministries, fruit of peace, fruits of the Spirit, Isisah 53, peace, Peace with God

Hi there,

Last week we took the challenged to challenge ourselves  in the fruit of joy.  Well, how’d you do?  It was a especially challenging for me because my mentor and dear pastor went home to be with the Lord.  I know that grieving is natural when someone dies and therefore I was and am.  But I did sign up for this challenge.  The word that kept coming up in my spirit was Isaiah 53:4, “Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…”  Right there I knew I had a choice.  I could receive what Jesus had given me or I could keep what I had, my griefs and sorrows.  I wish I could say that through it all I remained stable trusting in God, but I can’t exactly.  What I can say is that when I yielded to the Holy Spirit I had an inward stability but when I didn’t I didn’t.  You see the Holy Spirit is in us producing the fruit that we need but we have to allow it to come forth.  The choice is ours.

This week we will challenge ourselves in the fruit of peace.  Peace and joy are related because it’s impossible to have an inward stability that God through Jesus Christ has already worked it out and not have peace.  Peace is wholeness. Nothing missing, nothing broken completeness.  Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peace is more than a state of mind it’s Christ in us.

Peace is produced in us as we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us Jesus Christ, who He is, what He has done and all He has given us.  As we see this we see that we have nothing missing and nothing broken.  We see that there is no need for us to fear because God is not angry with us.  It was only after man sinned and the glory of God fell from him that he feared.  But thank God Jesus came and covered us in His righteousness and glory so that we no longer have to fear.  We have peace with God and therefore have nothing missing and nothing broken.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Throughout this week let’s ask the Holy Spirit to give us that revelation of Jesus, who He is, what He has done and all that He has given us so that no matter what things look like on the outside we know we have peace we know that we have nothing missing and nothing broken.

Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

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dont fear, evil words, fear, help, peace, the Lord is my shepherd, threatenings

Psalms 23:4

“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

When you are going through the valley of the shadow of death there are some things that you must realize.  First, you must realize it’s not real, it’s only a shadow.  Shadow’s are reflections of an object that has been made visible by the sun or light.  The object can be and usually is a great distance away.  Therefore, the shadow is only the threat of something evil or negative happening.   Second, fear no evil.  In other words don’t be afraid that the evil that is threatening to come upon you will materialize.  Here’s why, God is with you! He is protecting you, leading and guiding you.  His glory covers you. Psalms 91:7 says “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” And verses 9 and 10, “Because thou has made the Lord,which is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Why, because you are in Him.

The valley of the shadow of death is only the threatenings of the enemy.  Empty words with no power to do you any harm.  Isaiah 51:12-13, “I, even I, am He who comforts you.  Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?”  Child of God, where are all those things that the enemy been threatening you with?  None of it has come to pass and it never will.  The only reason you can see the enemy’s shadow is because the light of God presence reveals all things.

When Sennacherib came upon Jerusalem to invade it he sent Rabshakeh to king Hezekiah with a great army.  He stood and threaten Hezekiah and all Jerusalem saying, “…Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, what confidence is this wherein thou trustest?  I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war; now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?” (Isa. 36:4-5)  After hearing this Hezekiah sent men to Isaiah the prophet and here is what the Lord said, “…Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou has heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.  Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” (Isa. 37:6-7).

David started the 23rd Psalms with “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  Listen, as you see the Lord as the one that protects, keeps, leads and guides you there is nothing to fear and you can rest assure that the devil is in bigggggg trouble.

Don’t Apologize For Peace

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Follow Peace, peace

Sometimes following peace may not feel so peaceful.

Last week I made an appoint to meet with someone about doing business.  In our meeting I felt a little uncomfortable and thought that maybe this was not the avenue that I should take.  I didn’t convey this to them and we scheduled another meeting for today.

However,  for this entire weekend I had this nagging feeling about the meeting on today.  The closer it got the more uncomfortable I felt.  Then on Sunday evening as I was thinking about the situation the Holy Spirit said to me follow peace.  So I laid the situation out before me to determined where I felt peace whether in doing  business with them or not.  I quickly realized peace was not in doing business with them.

In making the decision to follow peace I knew that I would have to disappoint this person.  I tried to think of ways to tell them that wouldn’t be so disappointing but at the end of the day the only thing I could do was to follow peace regardless of how I felt or how it would make them feel. You see, every time I’ve fail to follow peace I’ve suffered the consequences.

Therefore, I want to remind you today follow peace.  Even if it means momentary discomfort don’t apologize for peace.  It’s your compass to destiny.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful.”

Don’t Stress About Rest!

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enjoy, family, Friends, happy, joy, laying back, peace, relaxation, rest

This weekend I spent my time just relaxing. No,  wait, I mean really, really, really relaxing.  I did nothing but lay around the house, listen to messages on the internet, and took many naps.  Then on Sunday evening I started to feel guilty about how I spent my time.  I thought, “I shouldn’t be this lazy, I should get up and do something.” I thought, maybe I should have used this time to do something more spiritual. Come to think of it, it reminds me of the V8 commercials when after drinking some other tastier drink you hit yourself and say “I should have had a V8.”  The stress and condemnation I was feeling had begun to undo all the rest and relaxation I’d received because if you’re not relaxed in your mind you not relaxed in your body.

God never wants us to feel condemned about anything.  I Timothy 6:17 says, “…who giveth us richly  all things to enjoy.”  Yes, He even gives us rest to enjoy.  Psalms 23:2 says, “He maketh me to lay down in green pastures.” This speaks of God giving us rest.   God not only knows how to give us rest but He knows when to give us rest.  He even created us in such a way that our bodies tell us when to rest. So, if you at times feel as though you want to lay around and do nothing, don’t stress about it, just rest.  Our times of rest gives our minds and body a chance to be restored, refreshed and renewed.  It’s God’s way of giving us strength for our journey.

Taking an entire weekend may not work for you right now but what about one day or half a day or 30 minutes.  The point is take time to rest and do something that you enjoy and don’t stress or feel condemned about it.  It’s God’s gift to you.  What are you doing to rest?  I love to hear how you’re taking time to rest and enjoy.

Free To Worship!

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condemn, condemnation, free, free to worship, joy, peace, worship

Hebrews 9:14

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Every time we go to pray and worship God, the enemy is there to try and bring us under condemnation.  Of course his purpose is to stop us from worshiping God to worship him.  He comes early in the morning even before you get out of bed with some thought to bring you under condemnation.  But thank God we have God’s promised that “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Rom. 8:1).

Paul says in Hebrews 9: 13 that if the blood of bulls and goats was enough to cleanse the body, how much more the blood of Christ purge our conscience from dead works to worship the living God.  In other words the blood of Jesus answers to anything the enemy brings to our minds to condemn us.

Condemnation robs us of our joy and peace and it kills.  It stops us from receiving from God and most of all it robs God of our worship.   Thank God for the blood of Jesus.  We live, move and having our being in the blood of Jesus.

Therefore, when you get up in the morning and the enemy begins to give you thoughts of condemnation, remind yourself you are living in the blood.  When you lift up your hands to worship and the enemy brings to your mind something you did or didn’t do, remind yourself that you’re lifting up your hands in the blood of Jesus.  The blood of Jesus answers to any and every thing the enemy brings our way.  The blood of Jesus has purged our conscience from dead works and freed us to worship the living God.  So do it now!

All Things Restored!

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bread, joy, Live, oil, peace, praise, reqrets, Restoration, restore, wheat, wine

Joel 2:24

“And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.”

The prophet Joel was telling Israel that God would send rain, the former rain, and the latter rain all in the first month and because of this rain there would be a great harvest (Joel 2:23-24).  Jesus Christ is the former and latter rain.

It is because of Jesus that our floors are full of wheat or bread.  The bread of life that came down from heaven; and that we have experienced the out pour and overflow of wine and oil, the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28).

Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”   It is because of Jesus that whatever you’ve lost or whatever has been stolen is being restored unto you.  All of the increase that you should have had if you had never lost anything is restored unto you plus present increase.  Increase past and present, former and latter is being restored unto you.  You no longer have to regret your past saying “if only I hadn’t done this or if only I hadn’t done that” because all of what you lost is restored to you.

Therefore, Joel 2:26 says, “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be ashamed.”   Because of Jesus the only thing left for you to do is Eat, Praise, Live!

Let Peace Rule!

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Bliss, Blissful, Calm, peace, Peaceful, rest, restful

Colossians 3:15

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

Jesus knew that we would be faced with tribulations, persecutions and trouble so He gave us His peace. John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  Peace is what we need to stand in the midst of adverse circumstances.  Notice Jesus said “my peace I give to you” we have the same peace that Jesus had.  When the Jews sought to stone Jesus He wasn’t afraid, He had peace. Peace that allowed Him to walk through the midst of them and not be seen (John 8:59).  Again, when Jesus was persecuted in the synagogue and the people rose up and thrust Him out of their city and led Him to a hill where they wanted to cast Him down headlong, He wasn’t afraid, His peace allowed Him to pass through the midst of them and go His way (Luke 4:29). Even when He was in the boat with His disciples and a storm arose, He was able to sleep because He had peace.  It was that peace that He spoke to the wind and the waves and said “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39) and it’s that peace that He has given to us. 

Look at the three Hebrew boys, when they were cast into the fiery furnace they believed in God.  They believed that God would deliver them out.  They weren’t trouble or perplexed they had the peace of God.  They said, “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter (Daniel 3:16).  Now does that sound like someone afraid?  I don’t think so their belief in God was their peace. 

 If you believe  in Jesus you have the peace of God.   The same way Jesus walked through angry mobs and sleep through a raging storm, you will rise above every adverse circumstance in your life if you let the peace not trouble rule in your heart. John 14:1, “Let not your heart be trouble ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Rest in peace! The peace that Jesus gives.

Standing Strong In Difficult Times

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difficult, faithful, peace, pray, prophecies, quench, rejoice, spirit, strong, Thanksgiving

I Thessalonians 5:16-28

These scriptures in I Thessalonians gives us instruction on remaining strong during difficult times.  They simply say rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in every thing give thanks, quench not the spirit, don’t despise prophecies, prove all things and hold fast to what is good; abstain from all appearance of evil and the very God of peace will sanctify you wholly and preserve your spirit, soul and body blameless unto the coming of Christ.  Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

So often we give to much place to the negative things that happen in our life.  Don’t take the negative situation or circumstance to heart, rejoice instead.  Here’s why.  Ephesians 2:6 says that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, if we are sitted together with Christ then we are where He is  “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in his world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:21).  This means that no matter how difficult the situation or circumstance may be we are above it because we are in Him. Jesus Christ has placed us above every dark cloud of this world.  This is why we can rejoice evermore.

In addition to being sitted together with Christ, we have the privilege of prayer.   It is our covenant right to ask our Father for anything and expect to receive what we ask.  Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I say unto you , what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  And not only that but God has given us His Spirit. During difficult times when things seem a bit overwhelming we can pray in the Spirit and find rest and refreshing for our spirit and soul (Isaiah 28:11).    You see, when we are rested and refreshed we are able to see all that God has accomplished for us.  Therefore, we can give God thanks in the midst of it all  because we know that He has already worked it out through Christ.    Jesus told us in John 16:33 “…in this world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Now as you are rejoicing and praying and giving thanks to God, the Holy Spirit will speak to your spirit and release wisdom to you for your situation.  Don’t quench the Spirit.  In other words don’t surpress or subdue the promptings of the Spirit because God gives His wisdom liberally (James 1:5).  God delights in leading and guiding us.  This is why He has given us His good Spirit to instruct us, so don’t surpress Him.

And then, don’t despise prophesyings.   During difficult times  God will give you a word of prophecy to edify and build you up.  This is what the gift of prophecy is for so don’t despise it.  We have His Spirit in us to prove what is of Him and what is not. Finally, know that the very God of peace is in the midst of you. He is sanctifying you wholly, and preserving your spirit, soul and body blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Through it all He is perfecting Himself in you.  And let’s not forget that the very God of peace is faithful and all that He has said He will do!