Recipe 10/14/09

Sometimes we work so hard trying to fix something, prepare for something, or figure out something that we begin to stress. God appreciates your hard work and diligence, but He doesn’t appreciate you thinking you can work it out by yourself. You must resist the thoughts you have of God moving too slow, and hold fast to truly waiting on Him, no matter what. Do what you need to do in order to keep yourself in check in this area or else God will have to.

"While you're busy trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out!"

Zechariah 4:6b NKJV
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

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Recipe 10/13/09

Everytime opposition is presented to you, opportunity is presented also. When the temptation arises in your life, you always have a choice to make - either turn away and walk away or not. We are always given a choice, and sometimes we choose to do the wrong things. The enemy may make you feel mad or sad about something in your life in order to get you to feel sorry for yourself, so that he can lead you into committing sin to make yourself feel better. Remember he strives to be more subtle than obvious, stay alert stay alive!

"You don't fall into sin, you either walk or run into it"

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

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Recipe 10/12/09

More money attracts more people, and all people don’t have your best interest at heart. Fake friends leech off what you have, reach for what you have, and seek for what you have. You see the ones with money surrounded by a large entourage, while those without money are lonely on corners, park benches, and sleeping beneath under-passes. Money can buy you friendship, while not having money can deny you friendship. Even Jesus had a friend who was all about the money - Judas.

"More money, fake friends - less money, real friends”

Proverbs 14:20 NKJV
The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

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Recipe 10/9/09

Society paints a distorted picture of what marriage ought to look like. While so many couples strain themselves trying to frame that distorted picture, they end up damaging God’s picture for their relationship. Although there is no perfect marriage, keeping Christ who is perfect in your relationship will strengthen the likelihood of a successful covenant. So stop trying to impress outsiders, and start trying to impress insiders - God and your spouse. Your true work, calling, career, and ministry begins at home, and ends elsewhere.

"It's harder to stumble while on you knees in prayer"

Mark 10:9 NKJV
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

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Recipe 10/8/09

It is easier to have hope and confidence when your surroundings permit. We are at ease when we feel like things are in control. However, when the tides shift, and the tables turn we tend to lose sight of what we hoped for, and what we had confidence in. When this happens it is easy to become: uneasy, restless, frustrated, doubtful, irritated, distant, and in some cases suicidal. This is the time when we should increase our faith in God, and see hope in the midst of what seems like hell. Be encouraged!

"If you can see the invisible, you can do the impossible"

John 20:29b NKJV
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

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Recipe 10/7/09

Some believe that with age comes wisdom, but with age comes the possibility of wisdom. Just because a person has been going to church or working at a specific place for X amount of years, doesn’t mean that they are mature in faith or with their jobs. Sometimes those can be the worst ones, because they are set in their ways, and try to justify themselves by age, position or title. Just remember that some titles are given instead of earned, that is why you sometimes see little people on big stages.

"Growing older doesn't always mean growing up"

1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

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Recipe 10/6/09

Most people think success is in a job, owning a home, or having a business of their own. These are just by products of knowing the right people, being educated, working hard or having a jumpstart. Success is not in what you possess. Anyone can be "successful" according to societal standards, but can anyone be successful according to godly standards? As believers our true success comes from living the word according to Joshua 1:8.

"Obedience is a key ingredient if you want to taste true success" - Godly success!!!

1 Samuel 55:22 NLT
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice...

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Recipe 10/5/09

Cars, homes, clothes, and any other material possessions are not fruits, they are snacks. As children of God we can sometimes be like little children who sometimes care more about consuming snacks, because they taste good, rather than fruits because they are good. We sometimes negate what is healthy for us, by consuming what is harmful to us. Mother use to always say “sometimes you have to eat what’s good for you, rather than what’s good to you.” Very simple, yet very significant for today’s topic.

"Your root determines your fruit"

Matthew 7:17 NLT
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

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Recipe 10/2/09

Money does not define who you are as a person, yet some people lose their minds without it. Don’t let society label you just by what you do and do not possess. No matter how much money a person has they cannot buy joy! We see false realities on television of what having money may feel like - then we spend what we do not have on what we cannot afford in hopes of attaining that false reality. If you are going through a season of financial instability maybe God is trying to show you something, His importance.

"Make money, don't let it make you"

Luke 12:34 NIV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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Recipe 10/1/09

We all sometimes in someway or another give other people the benefit of the doubt. We have some kind of hope that they at times have our best interest at heart, only to be disappointed when they fail us. God is not like this in any way, shape or form so why not always give Him the benefit of the doubt? He has your best interest at heart, and He wants to prove to you that He does - so give Him the chance that He deserves.

"God can out do your greatest expectations"

Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

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