You Are God's Instrument Created To Heal His People.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors."

Luke 4:18 (NLT)

Ah, the translucent warmth of the Caribbean's sunshine. Or perhaps it's the captivating lure of the television set, a new plasma screen beckoning us to watch just "one more movie." While leisure is necessary, how often have we pondered the fact that God called us to fervently continue and lovingly complete the mission of Jesus? We are ambassadors of God's Kingdom, commissioned on earth to rescue humanity. We are not here simply to relax and enjoy vacations in the sun. We are God's instruments to transmit His will to the nations.

Whereas Israel relied on the Lord God as their Chief Physician, medical doctors were so highly esteemed in Egypt that they were frequently deified. About 3000 B.C., Egyptian temples were erected to these early doctors of physical healing, many of whom possessed some surgical skill, maintaining a surprising familiarity with the human body. We must never forget what God said in His Word, "Love never fails." People are hurting; people are crying out for someone to come and help them. People want to be free, but they don't know where to turn. We, as children of the "Great Physician," must help those who are wounded and hurt. Jesus gave us the necessary tools to bring liberty to those in bondage: authority, instruction, love, anointing, and His Holy Spirit.

Isn't it time we take our place as instruments of God and begin to allow Him to love and heal His people through us?

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that You give me Your love that I may love others as You love me. Your Spirit is upon me and anoints me to preach the Gospel to those who haven't heard.

Action

Every Action Of My Today Is A Seed Holding Within It The Life Or Death Of My Tomorrow.

Your Seed Is The Greatest Tool To Achieve A Transformed Life.

"Jesus also said, 'Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God is like: a farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer's help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle.'"

Mark 4:26-29 (NLT)

As a child, do you remember tossing about those winged "helicopter" seeds, watching them whirl and float through the air? In reality, those winged creatures were maple seeds, carried upon the wind, divinely planted, and grown in diverse habitats. The scriptures tell us that when we plant a seed, it grows up and produces fruit, even though we don't know how. God engineered the laws of the universe so that every seed we sow matures and produces a harvest. Some people argue that they have no means to sow, but that simply isn't true. The problem is we look at what we don't have, rather than what we do. Let's begin this moment to look at everything we do have. Because when we resolve to do so, we are always ready to eagerly give.

Now think of how powerful a seed is. Though small at first, it can overturn the concrete in our greatest cities. Your seed-your time, heart, money, attitude, words, and skills-can radically transform your life if you let it. But like Jesus said, you have to be willing to let your seed fall to the ground and "die" so that something can come of it. In fact, you must be willing to make your whole life a seed, dying to yourself so that your life can produce fruit for others. And that's a harvest worth waiting for.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that as I sow my life, I reap an eternal harvest. I sow today and stand firm expecting a harvest from my seed.

Love

Love Can Be Measured By The Price Which It Cost Us To Declare It.

Criticism Is Restricted To The Power You Give It.

"Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, 'What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they are doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a day if they offer enough sacrifices? Look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubbish and using again!'"

Nehemiah 4:1-2 (NLT)

Nehemiah set out to rebuild the dilapidated wall of Jerusalem, and nothing was going to stop him. Nonetheless, it was no trouble-free task. His greatest enemy, Sanballat, was on a constant tirade, trying to destroy Nehemiah by crudely discouraging all of his builders. Soundly determined to do God's will, even in the midst of vitriolic criticism, Nehemiah led his team to complete the wall.

Sanballat's criticism would have been a great excuse for Nehemiah to throw in the towel. He could have keenly listened to its banter, firmly believing it, and then finally quit. But Nehemiah understood that criticism would only hurt him if he allowed it. On our journey to fulfill the will of God, we'll inevitably pick up a few critics. On December 1, 1953, at age 38, Dayan became the highest ranking Israeli commander with rank of Major General, the role for which he seemed destined. Whether it was waiting in line for his share of rations, or breaking his leg during paratroop training, all criticism vanished as far as General Dayan's service was concerned-the divine power of his assignment broke down (as it did with Nehemiah) every wall and every critic. When you hear criticism, strengthen your resolve to complete your assignment so that you, too, can glorify God.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that as I sow my life, I reap an eternal harvest. I sow today and stand firm expecting a harvest from my seed.

Perception

My Perception Of Life Significantly Dictates My Attitude Towards Life.