SUPPLY AND STRENGTH (How to Deal With Shortage)

Greetings and Salutations O Ye...Non-Worriers.

NOTE: If you are choosing NOT to worry and TRUST GOD...write me and let me know.

In a world that is coming apart at the seams....where on the surface it seems as if there are great SHORTAGES around the world of everything from oil to intelligence...we have got some choices to make. To WORRY...or NOT TO WORRY...that is the question?!? The answer is NOT TO WORRY...BUT TO TRUST...not in governments, jobs, people...but GOD.

Of course I had to include the picture that is in my office at home...that I gaze on everyday... of the mascot of Mad Magazine...the "What--Me Worry" kid...Alfred E. Newman. Now...old Al is considered to be a simpleton...who is not smart enough to worry. Well...that may be... but as a believer in the Living God...who is the SOURCE of my SUPPLY...I believe...that I am called NOT TO WORRY...but to TRUST.

As I wrote on my Facebook status this morning..."If you can trust God when gas is $1.50 a gallon...why can't you trust God at $4.00 a gallon? He's the same God...is He not?"

No...I am not talking about hiding our heads in the sand of religion...go into mass denial of a problem existing...BUT...I am talking about WALKING BY FAITH...AND NOT THOSE THINGS REVEALED TO THE SENSES. (Hebrews 11:1).

"Anxiety and Worry is the indicator that I do not trust God...or think God is big enough to handle whatever my circumstance, situation, condition is that I am going through." (R.L.B.)

It is easy to trust God when all is well...when I have a job...when the political climate is perfect, when Wall Street is stable, when world conditions are peaceful, when I have no sickness screaming in my body, I have insurance and access to my credit cards (making the minimum payments)....etc, etc, etc. It's like a miracle...everyone wants to see a miracle in their lives...not realizing that the condition for a miracle...ain't fun.

Well...Mr. Smart Guy...Mr. Holier Than Thou...Mr. Hypocrite...if I am not suppose to be ANXIOUS and WORRY...what other options do I have?

Oh...I don't know....maybe TRUST GOD! I like what Jesus said to Peter and the boys when they saw that the tree that He had cursed had died from the roots up. "HAVE FAITH IN GOD...CONTINUALLY." (Mark 11:22 The Amplified Bible). Then Jesus launched into a teaching session on PRAYER and FAITH...how we believe and how we talk. (See Mark 11:12-26 for full details.)

The word CONTINUALLY...speaks to me...of never giving up...in the good times, in the bad times, in the ugly times. It is the word that Romans 8:28 is based on..."We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] ALL THINGS (the good, bad, ugly) work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." (Romans 8:28 The Amplified Bible...with my good, bad, ugly added).

There are two verses that I love that speaks of STRENGTH and SUPPLY... and they are both NOT based on me.

"I have strength for ALL THINGS in Christ Who empowers me--I am ready for anything and equal to anything THROUGH HIM Who infuses INNER STRENGTH into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient...IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY." (Philippians 4:13 The Amplified Bible) I love that phrase...self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency because it focus on what HE can do...NOT on what I can do.

The other verse that speaks to me is about SUPPLY is..."And MY GOD...will liberally SUPPLY (fill to the full) your every NEED (not greed) according to His riches in glory IN CHRIST JESUS." (Philippians 4:19 The Amplified Bible...with "not greed" added by me.)

On of the compound names of God...is Jehovah-Jireh...I AM THE GOD OF SUPPLY.

Either HE IS...or HE AIN'T. It is like that word GODISNOWHERE...either it is GOD IS NO WHERE...OR GOD IS NOW HERE. It all depends on how you view it.


It is all about our WALK. We either are going to WALK BY FAITH...or walk by doubt, fear, unbelief, fear, worry, anxiety, what we see, what our senses tell us.

"Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation , the title-deed) of the THINGS [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] DO NOT SEE...and the conviction of their reality--FAITH PERCEIVING as REAL FACT what is NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

"For we walk by faith...[that is, we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] NOT BY SIGHT OR APPEARANCE."
(II Corinthians 5:7)

"But without FAITH it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."
(Hebrews 11:6 The Amplified Bible)

"For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith--disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written the Man who through faith is just and upright and shall LIVE...and SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (ROMANS 1:17)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

There may be shortages in the economy...but their AIN'T no shortage in God. Maybe the question should not be..."What...Me Worry?...but What...Me Trust God?" That answer would be a resounding...YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and Supplied Kisses
Rodney "Trusting God In The Good, Bad, and Ugly) Boyd

THE LORD... LIGHT...AND SALVATION (Who's Da Boss?)

Hello Friends.

Are you in the dark...or are you in the light? Well...in a world that appears to be overwhelmed by darkness, there is a light dawning...and within the dawning light...there is salvation.

"The Lord is my light...and my salvation." (Psalm 27:1)

LORD: 'adon (ah-done)= owner, master, lord, sir, the one in control. The primary meaning is master. Adonai (ah-do-ni) is used of the glorious Lord in all His powers and attributes.


The bottom line is that Lord means BOSS. Now...to some...Bruce Springsteen is THE BOSS...Jimmy Reed the old blues man would sing about BIG BOSS MAN...later covered by the King of Rock and Roll...Elvis... and in Hazzard County...the Big Boss... is literally BIG...as a Hogg... BOSS HOGG.

But the true BOSS...is THE LORD... JESUS IS BOSS. Jesus is...the one in control...LORD.

This is the one you want in control when darkness overwhelms you.


In Psalm 27...the word LORD (Boss) appears a total of 12 times. The words He/His/You/Your that appears as a reference to the LORD...appears 12 more times...so you have at least a total of 24 times where the LORD is directly or indirectly spoken of within 14 verses. Ya kinda get the idea that THE LORD is the focus of our SALVATION.

We have a need for SALVATION... because we are surrounded by ENEMIES. There are (1) evildoers
(2) adversaries (3) enemies. (Psalms 27:2) They attempt to bring dread, devour my flesh, war against us, bring fear, have a desire against us, give a false witness against us, and breath out violence against us...bringing us to despair. (Psalm 27:1-13)

This thing called SALVATION is more than our understanding of "FIRE INSURANCE"...avoiding a place called Hell...that we fear. Salvation is a very real thing that can be applied to every area of our lives. I don't know about you...but I need SALVATION to avoid hell...and get into heaven...BUT until the glory train comes...I need SALVATION to get me through my everyday nitty gritty life. Once you get SAVED...the enemy does NOT just throw up his hands and think..."well...I lost another one." NO...he will intensify the attacks on us.

Remember 24 times...the LORD is the focus of our salvation.

SALVATION: Hebrew: yesha=liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety. In the Greek=soteria/soterion=soundness, prosperity, rescuing, releasing, deliverance, liberation, freedom.

LIGHT: ore=illumination, luminary, bright, clean, glorious, set on fire, shine.

IF the Lord is your LIGHT and your SALVATION...here is the big question. WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

The answer is NO...BODY...NO THANG...NUTTIN' HONEY...ZIP, ZILCH, NADA, ZERO!!!!! We can't deny the reality of the ENEMY...because they are REAL....but our LORD...is "REALER". Now I know that "REALER"... may not be a REAL word...BUT...it is NOW...REALLY!!

What we MUST do...is when the (1) evildoers (2) adversaries (3) enemies (a host) begins to encamp and war against us (Psalm 27:2-3)...we MUST begin to see things through the OPEN EYES OF FAITH.

The perfect picture of this look into the invisible...is found in II Kings 6:1-33. The King of Syria was warring against Israel. Elisha warned the king of Israel that the Syrians are coming and to avoid going to a certain place. The King of Syria's heart was enraged...and plotted to get Elisha. The King of Syria sent (1) horses (2) chariots (3) and a great army AT NIGHT...and surrounded the city. (II Kings 6:8-14)

NOTE: We are in a war...the devil is out to get us...and at times...it appears that we are surrounded...and fear begins to creep in because of the enemy.

The servant of Elisha...rose up early in the morning...and SAW with his physical eyes...the army, horse, and chariots...CIRCLING THE CITY. He cried out to his MASTER (lord and boss)...WHAT SHALL WE DO? (II Kings 6:15)

NOTE: Elisha's answer to the question...DO...NOT...FEAR.

Elisha told his servant to NOT FEAR. Why? Why not fear? In the natural...there was reason for fear. Here is Elisha's answer for not fearing. "FOR THOSE WHO ARE WITH US...ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM." (II Kings 6: Say what??????? The servant could not SEE IT. All he could see is surrounding enemies, adversaries, evildoers.

QUESTION: What are you seeing...in your situations, circumstances...nitty gritty life? QUESTION #2 Are you afraid?
ANSWER: FEAR NOT.

Elisha then prayed...that the eyes of his servant would be OPENED. The cause and effect of Elisha's prayer...the Lord OPENED the servant's eyes and he SAW. What He saw was TRUTH... and truth...trumped reality. The truth was...the mountain was full of HORSES and CHARIOTS OF FIRES...all around Elisha.

You can check out the rest of this reality in II Kings 6...but suffice to say...PSALM 27 becomes real...when the eyes of our faith are open to why we should NOT fear...because...

"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION...WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE DEFENSE OF MY LIFE...WHOM SHALL I DREAD? (Psalm 27:1)

Love and Enlightened Kisses
Rodney "Waiting For The Lord" Boyd

DOUBT and FEAR: The Makings of Walking By Faith

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Fraidy Cats.. how is you DOUBT FACTOR. Are your FEARS fueling your DOUBTS? Well...here is a word of encouragement for you...BE A FRAYED KNOT.

"Fear ye NOT." (Jesus: Matthew 10:31)

"Sometimes I'm nuttin but A FRAYED KNOT... even though being told...BE AFRAID NOT." (Unknown)

Our friend the Cowardly Lion...in the Wizard of Oz...was a afraid of his own shadow...which led to his doubt about who he really was...The King of The Forest. He ran into Dorothy, The Scarecrow, and The Tin Woodman...who gave him hope that his courage could be restored to him by the Wizard of Oz. Of course...he found out that he had the COURAGE POTENTIAL all along. Fear and Doubt can paralyze us...and distracts us from what is in us all along. It is like TEMPTATION...that is designed not to pull us into something...but to PULL US AWAY FROM WHO WE REALLY ARE. (Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat To Larry Napier).

If the tempter (little t)...aka the devil (little d)...can place doubt and fear in our minds...he becomes the controller (little c) in our lives.

"Fear, doubt, unbelief, anxiety, worry, tension...will either be our tombstone...OR the stepping stone to trusting our God." (R.L.B.)

We must "BE ON THE ALERT". When we let our guard down...in comes the doubt and fear.

"Be of sober spirit...be on the alert. Your adversary (little a)...the devil (little d) prowls about like a roaring lion...seeking someone to devour."

The lion roars...intimidating whomever will be intimidated...and then go for the weakest link. The one who prowls about seeking someone to devour... who roars like a lion...is an intimidator (little i).

We are called to RESIST him...FIRM IN YOUR FAITH (not loose and sloppy in our faith..but FIRM in your faith).

"But RESIST him (little h) FIRM IN YOUR FAITH...knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (I Peter 5:9)

Whether you are in Guatemala (like Kirk and Diana)...or in Peru (like Ron and Annette )...or in Kenya Africa (like Don and Nancy )...or in Rio Bravo...(like Ray and Leah)...and many, many more around the world...you have the same experiences of the roaring lion (little r.l.) There are...and will be many opportunities to fear and doubt.

Yesterday at Springhouse Worship and Arts Center... Pastor Ronnie Meek gave a great word on "Doubting Thomas"...and how...just because we have doubts and fears...does not mean we are any less men and women of faith. For us to have faith...means that doubts must be real....for something to have faith real in our lives. I have often said...that just because you are going through something...does not mean that you are NOT walking by faith...or OUT of the will of God. Most likely...you are SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILL OF GOD...where you have to trust in God and God alone.

Fear and Doubt are not to be grasped...but should be WHY you are pressing into the Lord even more.

"Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for (confidently expect)...being the proof of things [we] DO NOT SEE and the conviction of THEIR REALITY--faith perceiving as REAL FACT what is NOT REVEALED to the senses." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

When we begin to walk in this FAITH...in the face of DOUBT and FEAR...we begin to PLEASE GOD.

"But without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) BELIEVE that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)." (Hebrews 11:6)

I like that idea...of in the face of doubt and fear...that I am not just sitting around...accepting whatever comes down the pike as the will of God...but earnestly and diligently SEEKING HIM OUT...and by doing that...I have entered into the POSSIBILITY of pleasing Him as I face the IMPOSSIBILITIES of life.

Many of you may or may not know that I like Old Time Radio. I listen to the various shows including comedies, variety, drama, mysteries, etc. One of my favorites is THE SHADOW.

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men...The Shadow knows." (The Shadow...aka Lamont Cranston)

"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...crime does not pay...The Shadow knows." (The Shadow..aka Lamont Cranston)

The Shadow strikes fear in the hearts of the bad guys...like Batman...who adopted the symbol of the creature that strikes fear in Bruce Wayne's heart...a bat.

Many times...we have to face the things that strikes fear and doubt in our heart. The Shadow may know a lot about evil in hearts...but God...know our hearts, our minds, our will, our emotions, intentions of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

Frank Gorshin is the personification of Batman's nemesis...THE RIDDLER. The Riddler wrecks havoc on Gotham City with crime...bring fear and doubt to the citizens hearts... all the while...leaving clues for Batman to follows...with riddles. The giant question mark...is his symbol.

In Mark 11:22-26...Jesus has been teaching on prayer, faith, authority, walking by faith and not by sight, the power of the spoken word and the power of forgiveness. Jesus tells us that as we pray..."and does NOT DOUBT at all in his heart...but BELIEVES..that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."

Sometimes...as we go into hyperspace with our faith...we tend to forget to do the basics. We get so wrapped up with confession, not doubting, believing (on what our prayers are focused on), forgiving...that we forget the main ingredient in our prayers.

"In the morning when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree (that Jesus had cursed previously) was withered (completely) away to IT'S ROOTS (below the level of vision when first spoken). And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which you doomed has withered away.!" (Mark 11:20-21)

Now...here is what we tend to miss in the formula..."And Jesus replying said to them, HAVE FAITH IN GOD...CONSTANTLY." (Mark 11:22)

Doubt and fear are real. We do not disclaim their reality...but as we say in the Ruminator Sunday School Class..."We do not doubt (fill in the blank) their reality...but we do deny their right to rule our lives...because TRUTH (the Word of God) TRUMPS reality." (R.L.B.)

My lovely wife, friend, helper...Brenda reminded my what Steve Burkett's father told me a while back...in reference to fear.

FEAR is nothing but F=false E=evidence A=appearing R=real.

You will either be A Frayed Knot...OR Afraid Not.

Lover and Non-Frayed Kisses

Rodney "Believing" Boyd

THE NOTHING AND EVERYTHING PRINCIPLE

PRE-NOTE: This was posted as a note on FACEBOOK... but this is a revised version...so if you read it on FACEBOOK...you may find some extra goodies in this version.

Hello anxious and non-anxious friends. How's your anxiety level...currently?

ANXIETY...is defined as a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what MAY HAPPEN...concern about a POSSIBLE FUTURE EVENT.

Do your find your mind wandering to what MIGHT HAPPEN...or the POSSIBILITY of THE FUTURE? One definition of anxiety is being pulled in 20 different directions...and not being able to focus on ONE THING. Another definition is being fearful about something that you can't do anything about anyway. Whatever your definition...being anxious is NOT a God thing. We are called to CAST OUR ANXIETY ON HIM...BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
(I Peter 5:7)

Enter...THE NOTHING AND EVERYTHING PRINCIPLE...aka...THE ANXIETY BUSTERS (who ya gonna call?) This principle is found in Philippians chapter 4 verses...6-9. The key that makes this principle work is found in verse 5...THE LORD IS NEAR. If HE IS NEAR...what do you have to be ANXIOUS ABOUT.. especially if you are WALKING BY FAITH...and not by SIGHT (things revealed to the senses: Hebrews 11:1, II Corinthians 5:7 The Amplified Bible)

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

1. Be anxious: This means DON'T BE anxious. It is a choice. DON'T BE uneasy, apprehensive, worried about what MAY HAPPEN. Don't project your fears on FUTURE EVENTS.

2. For nothing: No thang...zilch...nada...nuttin' honey.

3. BUT: The link between the nothings and what comes next.

4. In everything: That covers all the stuff in the nothing column

NOTE: At this point...take a piece of paper and divided it down the middle. At the top on one side put NOTHING...and on the other side put EVERYTHING. Write down everything that you are ANXIOUS about under the NOTHING COLUMN. Then draw an arrow from the NOTHING COLUMN...to the EVERYTHING COLUMN..because they are exactly the same things.

5. By Prayer: This is communication with God. It is not a monologue...BUT...a two way conversation as you speak to God...and He speaks back through His written Word...and His Holy Spirit (Big S)...into your human spirit (little s). Oh yes...he may use other means of speech and communication...including brothers and sisters in the Lord and/or whatever He decides to use. It is up to us to LISTEN UP.

6. And Supplication: This is a specific, humble, petition of what you need. he will supply your NEEDS (not your greed's) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus...and there AIN'T no shortage in glory in Christ Jesus.

7. With Thanksgiving: This is where your FAITH is applied to #'s 1-6...aka where the rubber meets the road. You THANK HIM...BEFORE anything ...of the nothings...and the everythings...ever change. You begin to attach faith to your confident expectations (aka hopes)...and WALK BY FAITH...and not what is revealed to your senses. This includes...what MAY HAPPEN...or the FUTURE EVENTS.

8. Let/Allow your requests be MADE KNOWN to God: He knows already what you need...but places the choice in your hands...to WORRY or TRUST HIM. To worry or not to worry...that is the question. The answer: NOT!! As you allow your requests to be released to Him...you give Him permission (as if He needed it...but He chooses to let us limit Him)...to in your life. One thing that pleases God is FAITH (Hebrews 11:6) You must come to Him with your requests...and believe that He is...and that He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him and not those who just passively inquire of Him.

CAUSE AND EFFECT OF DOING #1-8

And the PEACE OF GOD...which surpasses all comprehension...shall GUARD your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS: The areas of attack is the (a) heart (b) the mind. Peace is the guard. The attack is still swirling aroundyou...BUT...you are at REST/WHOLE. The peace you can comprehend is the ABSENCE OF CONFLICT...God wants you to GO BEYOND YOUR COMPREHENSION. (and reel in your worried imaginations).

NOTE: Unrestrained minds (what you think)...produces unrestrained words (what you speak) ...resulting in unrestrained thoughts (what you think).

KEY TO A PROPER MINDSET

Romans 5: 5-8 speaks of TWO MINDSETS...(a) one on the FLESH (B) one on the SPIRIT (Big S). The cause and effect of the mind set is (a) flesh/death (b) Spirit/life and peace.. Isaiah 26:3 speaks of a PERFECT PEACE...but it does not come unless you STAY/SET your MIND on Him.

Philippians 4:8 shows where our MINDS SHOULD BE DWELLING. Note: Where you mind is dwelling...will be telling...on YOUR LIPS and YOUR ACTIONS. This is also known as THE WHATEVER PRINCIPLE (again your choice). WHATEVER IS:

a. True
b. Honorable
c. Right
d. Pure
e. Lovely
f. Of Good Report...versus bad report. (Whose report are ya gonna believe...we will believe the REPORT OF THE LORD)
g. Any Excellence
h. Anything worthy of praise.

LET/ALLOW YOUR MINDS TO DWELL ON THESE THINGS!!!!

WHAT NEXT?

In Philippians 4:9...find somebody that is walking in these things...and then...WHAT YOU:

a. Have learned
b. Have received
c. Have heard
d. Have seen
e. PRACTICE THESE THINGS!!!

Well...there ya go...THE NOTHING AND EVERYTHING PRINCIPLE FOR ANXIETY BUSTING.

Love and Non-Anxious Kisses
Rodney "Walkin' By Faith...and NOT Things Revealed To The Senses" Boyd

WHAT YOU SEE...IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT YOU GET.

Hello Faith People. What you see...ain't always what you get. Just ask Earnest T. Bass. He wanted to woo Charlene Darling with his charms. He just want to court the love of his life... even though she was married by Sheriff Andy Griffith of Mayberry. To resolve the problem... a "real preacher" was coming through...and Dud and Charlene were going to get married by a "real preacher" to satisfy Earnest T. Bass. Ernest T. plotted to steal the bride before the wedding could take place. Everyone was in place for the wedding...the preacher was there... brothers and father of the bride was there...the witnesses were there...the bride and groom were ready to make there vows. SUDDENLY...Ernest T. should up and kidnapped the bride. All looked well...until...he removed the veil...and discovered that his bride was in reality a substitute...Deputy Barney Fife. The real bride was safely being married. Barney Fife's response to Briscoe Darling's assertion of Ernest T. Bass being a strange...Barney sums it it...
"HE'S A NUT." What he saw...was not what he got.

Look at a couple of examples:

ISAWABUNDANCEONTHETABLE

Did you see I SAW A BUN DANCE ON THE TABLE...or did you see I SAW ABUNDANCE ON THE TABLE?

GODISNOWHERE

Did you see GOD IS NO WHERE or did you see GOD IS NOW HERE?

What you see...is what you believe...is what you speak...is how you act. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. It's the old... the glass is half empty or half full MINDSET.

We see with either a RENEWED MIND...or an UNRENEWED MIND. When we are BELIEVERS in the D.B.R...and we keep our minds renewed with the washing of the water of the WORD OF GOD...we begin to look at things DIFFERENTLY than a lost person or a carnal Christian.

"For we WALK BY FAITH [that is, we REGULATE our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus WE WALK]...not by SIGHT or APPEARANCE."
(II Corinthians 5:7 The Amplified Bible)

"Now FAITH IS...the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] HOPED FOR......being the proof of things/evidence of things [we]...DO NOT SEE...and the CONVICTION OF THEIR REALITY---FAITH...PERCEIVING...as REAL FACT...what is NOT...
REVEALED TO THE SENSES." (Hebrews 11:1 The Amplified Bible)

"But without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please and be satisfactory to Him. For WHOEVER (that would be you) would come near to God...must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who EARNESTLY and DILIGENTLY...SEE HIM (out)." (Hebrews 11:6)

What do you see...when debt overwhelms you...when sickness lingers...when anxiety, worry, and tension pulls you in twenty different directions. Do you see WOE IS ME...this must be God's will for me...or do you see:

"And MY GOD will liberally SUPPLY (fill to the full) your EVERY NEED according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:19)

Do you see:

"I have STRENGTH for ALL THINGS in Christ Who empowers me--I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses INNER STRENGTH INTO ME, [that is, I am self-sufficient in CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY]. (Phillipians 4:13)

Whatever you are going through....don't FOCUS on your problems/needs...and don't deny that you have problems/needs....HOWEVER... look intently into the face of God...via the WORD OF GOD...and begin to speak your solution instead of the problem. As the old song says... "Turn your eyes upon Jesus...look full in His Wonderful face...and the THINGS OF EARTH will grow strangely dim...in the light of His GLORY AND GRACE. Between the point of prayer....................................................................and the point of provision....walk by faith, act by faith, speak by faith. Remember:

UNRESTRAINED THOUGHTS....PRODUCE UNRESTRAINED WORDS....RESULTING IN UNRESTRAINED ACTIONS. What we THINK...what we SAY...what we DO...is based on if we SEE....I SAW ABUNDANCE ON THE TABLE...and...GOD IS NOW HERE.

Love and Faith Kisses
Rodney "I've Got My Feet Planted On The Good, Good Word...I'm Standing On The Promises That I Heard...Signed, Sealed, Delivered by the Blood of the Lamb...I'm Not Moved By What I Feel...I'm Only Moved By The Word That's Real...The Word Came To Life, Came To
Me" Boyd

P.S. Thanks to Janny Grien for the Song Covenant Woman.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE???? OH REALLY!?!

Hello movie fans. It's that time of year when the seasonal holiday movies are rolled out for us to enjoy...and I do enjoy them. Oh a lot of them have nothing to do with what CHRIST-mass is all about...but they do give us some "sentimental hogwash" to tear up and wish our lives could be like that. One of my favorite movies is IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It is the story of George Bailey...who is brought to the brink of suicide...by his circumstances and dashed dreams to leave Bedford Falls and fulfill his life long desire to see the world.

It speaks of people like the Psalmist David as he plucks his blues song..."O Lord how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, THERE IS NO HELP FOR HIM IN GOD." Psalm 3:1,2

It speaks of the despair that Elisha's servant had when all he saw who was surrounding him and Elisha. "Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold AN ARMY WITH HORSES AND CHARIOTS WAS CIRCLING THE CITY. And his servant said to him, ALAS, my master...what shall we do?
(II Kings 6:15)
It's like the Psalmist laments in Psalm 37...where evildoers and wrongdoers seem to prosper while you are doing all the right things and can't get a break.
(Psalm 37:1)

It's like you and me...as our worlds falls apart, our economy crashes, the cold, hard circumstances of life slaps us in the face. WHAT CAN WE DO. Well the answer is the same as it was for David, Elisha's servant, and the Psalmist. God, faith, hope, love, tenacity, don't give up, press into God.

In George Bailey's case...what set his answered prayer into motion was many, many friends, neighbors, family members on there knees praying for George Baily. The movie opens with an overview of the Bailey household and you see the camera drawing back and upward as the prayers are being shot out like arrows on a mission. The prayers swirl in the cosmos and hits it's target...and an angel is dispatched to help George through the rough times.

For David surrounded by enemies...after stating his problem...he declared the answer to his problem. "But though O Lord are a shield about me, my glory and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about." (Psalm 3:3-6)

Elisha's servant had a master who saw beyond what was obvious and prayed for the servants eyes to be open to reality...spiritual that is..."Se he answered, Do not FEAR, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then Elisha prayed and said, O Lord I pray, OPEN HIS EYES that he may SEE. And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he say; and behold, the mountain was FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE ALL AROUND ELISHA." (II Kings 6:16,17)

The Psalmist in Psalm 37 was given practical things to do in the face of overwhelming odds. He says get proactive and: do not FRET, TRUST in the Lord, DO good, DWELL in the land, CULTIVATE faithfulness, DELIGHT yourself in the Lord, COMMIT your way to Him, REST in the Lord, CEASE from anger. Instead of worrying about evildoers and wrong doers who will be withering like grass and fading like the green herb under the sun anyway...get PROACTIVE IN YOUR FAITH.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

Hmmmmm....it really is a WONderful life...when the ONE you trust is GOD...so you will have a ONEderful life in HIM.

Love and Standing Kisses
Rodney "Is That A Bell I Hear" Boyd

THE SECRET STRENGTH AND SUPPLY FACTOR

Hello all of you 98 pound weaklings. Anyone kicked sand in your face lately? Have you had NEED to bulk up and deal with the bullies in your life? Do you find yourself lacking...in areas of finance, peace, confidence, (fill in the blank of what you need)? Well...welcome to my world.

As believers...we know deep down in our gut...and in the back of our minds...that God is in control. The problem is that we can talk the talk...but when it comes time to walk the walk...we tend to stumble. It is EASY (shout out to the Easy Elder)... to trust God...when we do not have any NEEDS...it is easy to be STRONG when there is no opposition...BUT the rubber meets the road...in the face of conflict.

We love a couple of verses found in Philippians chapter 4...verses 13 and 19. They read..."I CAN DO all things through CHRIST who strengthens me."...and "My God SHALL SUPPLY all your NEEDS according to His riches in glory in CHRIST JESUS." Ohhhhh..
yes...and amen...hallelujah!

But...when we CAN'T DO... and we are WEAK as bag of bones in a Charles Atlas ad...and our out go exceeds our income...we tend to weaken in our FAITH...try to do things on our own...get discouraged...lose hope...and quit.

NEVER FEAR....UNDERDOG IS HERE. There is hope...confident expectation...BUT...you have to back up a few verses...before you get to verse 13 and 19.

There is a promise of peace...but again there is a precursor to the PEACE. There is a SECRET...and it is meant to be revealed. Let's check out the SECRET STRENGTH AND SUPPLY FACTOR. Read the entire fourth chapter of Philippians.

KEY PRINCIPLES TO STRENGTH AND SUPPLY

Verse 1: Stand firm in the Lord. Anyone can give up...but you got to persevere....never give up...hang in there like a bitin' sow...take a stand. Notice that you are not standing firm in your own abilities...in your own faith...in the government...in other people...but you are standing FIRM in the Lord.

Verse 2: Live in harmony. If you have something against someone...get it right. As long as you are out of key with someone...as long as you are hitting sour notes....as long as you are walking in bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness...you will not reach verses 13 and 19.

Verse 3: Help others to accomplish verse 2. We are the body of Christ... and we really do need one another. We are not Lone Rangers...we are Multiple Rangers...with Multiple Tontos oh Keemosabe.

Verse 4: Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS (in the good, bad, ugly) and agians I say REJOICE (underscoring the importance). The word rejoice means to be full of CHEER, calmly happy, well off. I have always read this as something focused on MYSELF...but in reading this definition...it states that this is used as a GREETING to others. We are called to speak forth blessings on others...speaking cheer to others...to speak forth being calmly happy or well off to others. As we focous on others we enter in to true JOY. J=Jesus first O=Others second Y=You last. It really is not all about you baby.

Verse 5: Let...or allow (your choice) your forbearing (humble, moderate) spirit BE KNOWN to all men. Let your light shine. Live out your faith in front of others. Yes...your faith is a private intimate affair between you and your God...but you are THE LIGHTS OF THE WORLD. As Jesus taught...LET YOU LIGHTS SHINE BEFORE MEN.

Verse 5: The Lord Is NEAR. As Watchman Nee says...if we really believed that the Lord lives in us...then we might not do and say some of the things we do. Let their be an awareness of His presense...like Brother Lawrence did as he PRACTICED THE PRESENCE OF GOD...in the mundane things of life like...washing pots and pans in a monastary kitchen. Is your life as mundane as a monestary?

Verse 6: BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING. Of course it says BE anxious but what it means is DON'T BE anxious. Again...BE...reflects the ability to choose anxiety...or choose NOT to be anxious. The perameters of our anxiety is NOTHING and EVERYTHING. Take a piece of paper...divide it down the middle...on one side write the word NOTHING...and on the other side write EVERYTHING. Now...on the NOTHING side...list all of your worries, anxieties, fears, cares, doubts, unbeliefs. Be specific... God will not be shocked by what you put down. NOW...take an arrow and transfer all of your NOTHINGS...into the EVERYTHING category. THEY ARE THE SAME THING.

Verse 6: Now...we deal with the NOTHINGS AND EVERYTHINGS.

a. Prayer: Conversation with God. Talk to Him. Open up the lines of communication. Let it be a dialouge not a monolouge.

b. Supplication: A specific list. Not shotgun prayers. If you need your electric bill paid...tell Him..and how much you need down to the penny. Do it with a humble attitude. Remember also that He will meet your needs not your greeds. If you are lonely...tell Him. If you are sick and need a healing, tell Him. BE SPECIFIC.

c. With Thanksgiving: You pray..you supplicate...and while you DO NOT see or feel an answer...you begin to THANK HIM before you see anything happen. This is praying in faith. Act as if it is true. The difference between someone praying for rain is one person prays for rain...the other person carries an umbrella with confident expectation that it will rain. It's like a movie I saw last night at our karate school..FACING THE GIANTS. The farmer that plants his field and does not prepare for the harvest...is not really expecting a crop. Thanksgiving before anything changes...is an indicator of trusting God.

Verse 7: The cause and effect of doing these things...is PEACE that PASSESS ALL UNDERSTANDING AND COMPREHENSION. The type of peace that we understand...is when there is an absence of conflict. We understand that when there is no war...there is peace...BUT...God wants us to have peace in the middle of the whirlwind...when things are not resolved...when the electric bill is not paid...when the doctor's report is bad. This can ONLY COME...when we are practicing verses 1-6 at this point....and to enter into a place where we know that God will meet our needs and give us strenght definitely must come by this way.

Verse 7: This PEACE...acts as a GUARD...much like the elite Roman Garrisons (The Green Beret and Navy Seals combined) who would surround a city. This peace will surround our hearts and our minds (the place of warfare and conflict)...and set guard...in CHRIST (The anointing that lifts burdens, destroys yokes) Jesus.


Verse 8: The question is...where is your MIND DWELLING? What's on your noodle? Is your thinkin'...stinkin'? Where you're dwellin'...will be tellin'...on you lips. Your mouth is the spout that reveals your heart and who or what you are really trusting when the pressure is on. Here are a list of the WHATEVERS that we need to be letting our MINDS DWELL ON:

a. Whatever is TRUE: "Sanctify them by thy Word...thy Word is TRUTH." John 17:17

b. Whatever is HONORABLE: Venerable, honest, grave. Walk in the light as He is in the light...and not a lie.

c. Whatever is LOVLEY: How lovely is your dwelling place...oh Lord of host. Get in His Presence

d. Whatever is of GOOD REPORT: Whose report are you going to believe...I will believe the REPORT of the Lord. 12 spys went in to spy out the promised land...2 came back with a GOOD REPORT...10 logged in a BAD REPORT.

e. If there is any EXCELLENCE: Get your mind of the mediocre and focus on His excellence.

f. If there is anything WORTHY OF PRAISE: What worth do you put in God moving in your life...the GET YOUR PRAISE ON.

Verse 9: The ball is in your court. Paul says that what you have:

a. learned
b. received
c. heard
d. seen

then...PRACTICE THESE THINGS. Practice means do them...mess up... get up and do it again until they become second nature. You only fail...when you don't get up again.

Verses 10-12 lays out THE SECRET of having and not having...THE SECRET of living in prosperity...and getting along with humble means...THE SECRET of being filled...and going hungry... THE SECRET of any and every circumstance...THE SECRET of having abundance and suffering need. This SECRET is the KEY to STRENTH AND SUPPLY that you have been preparing for from verse 1 of Philippians 4.

The SECRET is found in verse 11...not that I SPEAK from want. Again... your lips reveal your heart. Pauls condition was not based on his circumstance or his checking account. Paul learned the SECRET to SPEAK from a position of CONTENTMENT versus SPEAKING from a position of want, need, weakness, fear, anxiety, bitterness, etc. He spoke from a position on what his MIND had been DWELLING ON found in verse 8.

Now you are ready for STRENGTH AND SUPPLY.

Stand firm in the Lord...live in harmony in the Lord...help those who share the struggle...Rejoice in the Lord always as you speak forth blessing to others...allow people to see your humble spirit...realize the Lord is near...choose not to be anxious for anything...pray, supplicate and thank Him before you see an answer...live with a guarded heart and mind, and let you mind dwell on Him...and speak from a place of hope.

Thanks for hanging in there as you read this. If you did you are truly a Ruminator.

Love and Long Winded Kisses
Rodney "Supplied and Strong In Him" Boyd