31 days: We Need A Crowd of Truth Speakers

drawn by my lovely friend Jenna

                                            

All around us people are buying into the lies of the world because they do not know the Word and the holiness of God! 

We need a generation, an 'army' in this day and age, who is motivated and willing to live according to the WORD and not the 'world', a people who are willing and able to speak truth. 

'TRUTH' is anointed with the Holy Spirit. It has power. Go speak the unadulterated truth of God. It will be a fragrance of death to some so it will be uncomfortable and even hated, BUT it will be a fragrance of life to others (2 Cor. 2:15,16). Take the risk to speak truth, truth unto eternal life.  The gospel IS the power of God unto salvation.

 And God has built 'community' in our hearts so that people ARE influenced by 'the crowd'. 

The world needs a crowd of TRUTH speakers. 

Oh Lord, raise up a righteous crowd! One who is living "to please You in all respects" (Col. 1:9-12) and (Titus 2:11-15) denying ungodliness and worldly desires and living sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age... purified and zealous for good deeds. 

Let us, like Ezra, set our heart to study the Word and to practice it and to teach it.  (Ezra 7:10)

Let us KNOW the Word, ACT on it's truth in faith, rise up, and speak the truth in and out of season. 

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5

31 Days: We Must Know the Word of God

              In order to rise up, to risk it, to fulfill our calling, to please God in all respects, and to push beyond the fear and beyond the lies and accusations of the enemy (like the 'who do you think you are!' that rings in your ears after you finally decide to dream or take that step of faith), it is imperative that we know the Word of God. 

That's just the bottom line. It is the answer to our weaknesses and woes: God's people need to be in His Word!   

Romans 15:4 says, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." 

We live in a time when just about everyone we come in contact with is in need of some encouragement and hope. May we have the Word to give.

The Word washes 
and cleanses.
And (listen, this is important for these days)
the Word gives holy MOTIVATION, no matter what it costs,
to be on a HOLY God's side:
a God Who wins and is eternal, 
a God Who is all powerful and works miracles,
a God Who makes a way when there is no way, 
a God Who loves you and has given you everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), Who rescued you from the domain of darkness, and transferred you to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13,14),
a God Who has a Name that makes demons shudder. 

It is eternally worth it to be on His side! 

We need a change in our mindset, and the Word does just that. How can being 'comfortable and safe and not controversial' in this world even compare with being on His side, with the glory that is to come, and with truly helping others by sharing Who they truly need, that they may have hope here on earth and for eternity? Will we choose to forfeit all that just to not make people (or ourselves) 'uncomfortable'? How have we bought into that lie so easily?

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Col. 3:2,3   

Know and speak His Word. 

The Word is truth, and Truth wins.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17  

May we be equipped.

31 Days: Your 'Beyond'

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21

To rise up and fulfill our ministry, we need to know what that ministry is.  Yet we serve a God Who 'is able to DO' (watch these over the top words:) 'far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think' through us. So even as we dream big dreams, He is able to do far more.

This means that WE are able to DO far beyond what we can even imagine because, and only because, He is able. 

And according to the power that works within you, you have your own specific, unique 'beyond': 'good works, which God prepared beforehand so that you WOULD walk in them.' (Eph. 2:10).

Yes, you. You are not beyond His ability to do 'beyond' in and through you.

While you may not currently be aware of what that 'beyond' is because it is beyond all that you can imagine, God knows and is able.

What have you been asking for?
What have you been contemplating and dreaming? 
This may be the starting point, but it's ultimately beyond that! As it is beyond what we can even 'think', I believe that God will sometimes show other people glimpses of our 'beyond' so that they can dream for us and encourage us so pay attention to other people's encouragement.  If it seems too big or outlandish, then it's probably God. He is BIG and loves to see His children doing God-sized tasks to His glory. In other words, don't shrug off what He shows other people or the dreams that He drops in your spirit, things that seems 'impossible'.  Take it to Him in prayer.  

Will you take the courage, which He freely provides, and choose to be brave enough to take some abandoned dreams (dreams that you dreamed of on 'the mountaintop' with God), some neglected 'temple projects' (see day 1 if you missed it:Excel Still More: 31 days: Rise Up) before God and ask for His thoughts? Could it be time to take them up again? OR will He drop new dreams into your heart?

One thing is for sure: our 'beyond' will always be beyond our comfort zone and beyond our own ability, which gives opportunity to the rise of discouragement and fear.  To step up into God's calling will take risks that our flesh will always want to refuse. 

But that 'beyond' is exactly where you want to be living, that you "....may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...." (1 Peter 2:9). Oh to live a life that glorifies Him and pleases Him in ALL respects (Col. 1:10).

Risk it.

Begin to pray for your 'beyond'. He knows it by name.

31 days: Rise Up

     I love journaling. To sit and listen and learn from God with my bible and my journal is one of my favorite things. 

     For years God has been telling me to write, to write and get things OUT of my journals. It is not for my consumption alone; it is to be shared. So for this month of October, I will be taking the 31 day challenge from write31days.com to blog everyday from my journal (or to blog as my journal, we'll see). 

I pray that these entries will speak to your heart as they do mine, that they would teach, stretch, and encourage you, calling you to His Word each and every day, that you may awaken to the abundant life and good works He has planned for your future.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Welcome to 31 Days of Awakening

Scroll Down to read day 1:

Click to read the other days. I'll be adding a link here to each day once it is posted.

Day 2:  Your 'Beyond'

Day 3:  We Must Know the Word of God

Day 4:  We Need A Crowd of Truth Speakers

Day 5:  Awaken to the Possible and Speak the Word of God

Day 6:  Make Truth 'Fashionable'

Day 7:  What is Your Part?

Day 8: Rise Up and Follow Him

Day 9:  Rise Up for Change

Day 10: That He May Be Glorified

Day 11:Do Not Be Discouraged

Day 12: Creator of the Real Tides, Turn This Tide

Day 13: Be Appalled at the Enemy's Taunting and Take Action

Day 14:  Do Not Turn Back

Day 15: Produce Change

Day 16: Contend Earnestly for the Faith

Day 17: 'Watch' His Word

Day 18: Mine the Depths of Truth and Take Him at His Word

Day 19: Fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ

Day 20: Be Transformed by His Truth

Day 21: The Time is Now

Day 22: Awaken to Obedience, Prove Yourselves Doers of the Word

Day 23: Not Ashamed of Him and His Words

Day 24: Living Righteously and Godly and Unashamed in the Present Age

Day 25:  Rise Up and Pray

Day 26: Hope, Dream, Act

Day 27: Awaken to Freedom

Day 28: Be Who You Are

Day 29: Trust and Serve Him Alone

Day 30: Stand

Day 31!:  Awake, Arise, and Use Your Authority

Concluding thoughts: Excel Still More: 31 Days Wrap Up: Awaken and Stand





Day 1: Fulfill Your Ministry

     After a big family move this year to a beautiful beach town, this challenge is a great push to force me to quickly lay aside the procrastinator's motto: 'The time has not come' Haggai 1:2. 

     Instead, it IS time to 'consider my ways' Haggai 1:5,6, to 'take courage', and 'work; for He is with me'. Haggai 2:4 

     God sent the prophet Haggai to encourage the people after their enemies had successfully put a stop to their given assignment of rebuilding the temple. Their enemies accomplished the halt by:

1) trying to make them compromise, ('Let us help. We are just like you.', the dilution of true worship: syncretism- an attempted union or reconciliation of diverse or opposite tenets, especially in the area of philosophy [what you think] and religion),

2) discouraging the people, 

3) frightening them, and  

4) hiring counselors against them to frustrate them. (Ezra 4:1-5). 

    How many of us have been stopped by those same ploys: compromise, discouragement, fear, and lies? And as a result, how many of us are currently avoiding what we know we are called to?  

Or just as a result of the busyness of daily 'life', are we essentially saying and believing, 'The time for (fill in the blank) has not come'? Haggai's audience was busy building their own paneled houses instead of the temple. 

What is your 'temple project' that you have been distracted from?

Oh if we, as the people of God, would take courage and no longer allow anyone to tempt us to live in 'the time is not now'. 

The time is now. 

     I pray that He would graciously and powerfully use these 31 days to awaken us. Knowing that He is with us which makes ALL the difference, may we let Him do His work in and through us.  May we be enCOURAGEd to step up and step out and to "excel still more" each day, (1 Thess. 4:1,10) and 

go "fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5). 

            I hope you'll join me on the journey. 

                                                                          

                                                                          Traci Shinnick

A Big Life for His Glory

Do we serve a Big God, but live a little life?

Jeremiah 32:17 says,“Ah Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You..”

And then ten verses later Jeremiah 32:27 says,“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

 

 But in between these two great faith inspiring verses sits this sobering thought: Jeremiah 32:21-23 “You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; ……”

What a sad commentary.  He blessed them abundantly; how could they not, in thankfulness to God, commit to serve and obey Him?

     Yet, what about us?  God has brought us, as His children, out of our pits and out of our bondage with His great miraculous power, with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm and has placed us in a land of plenty:

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..” Ephesians 2:1-6

         He has taken us out of our 'Egypt'. He has given us a new heart, a new life. We are new creatures in Christ.  We have such a great salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit within us, along with everything we need for life and godliness.  He has blessed us abundantly with spiritual gifts so that we can live abundantly and do the good works that He has planned beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10).  And we come into this new life with Christ and take possession of it and just expect to live off the milk and honey of this ‘land’.  We come in and take possession and then decide to walk our own way, sowing seeds to the flesh and indulgences, instead of obeying His voice and laying down our lives as a living sacrifice and living out all that He has put in.

            We take possession of the home, neighborhood, community in which He has placed us and enjoy it, but do not fully obey all that He has for us to do here and, therefore, never fully possess our possession. Let it NOT be said of us…. 'They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; ……'

He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21

 What about us? 
Are we living off the spoil of the land and yet walking our own way?
 Or are we daily taking up our cross and choosing real life
 by loving the Lord our God,
obeying His voice,
and holding fast to Him:
the God of the impossible! 

(Deuteronomy 30:19,20; Matthew 19:26)

May we live big lives FOR HIS GLORY!

He is able. 

 

Do Not Be Discouraged

Do not be discouraged. Fix your eyes upon Me, and see if I do not pour forth faith that moves mountains.

        To not be discouraged, we will have to look away from all that surrounds us that is so discouraging in this world, and continually and habitually (which is the tense of that verb in Hebrews 12:2) look to Him. As we focus on Him: His truth, omnipotency, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and His promises in His Word, and as we are reminded of just how big and able He truly is, He will pour forth faith, even in the places where we are tempted to be discouraged and to fear.

       He is THE Almighty. You may lay your burden down at His feet to carry for you and to accomplish what concerns you this very day, and in the days to come. He is ABLE to make you to walk on your high places and to make you to walk in confidence in what He is able to do and confidence in your security in His loving care for your plight. He is intimately acquainted with all of your ways and all of your cares and concerns. 

      Do not fear, even 'though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea' (Psalm 46:1). In other words no matter what, you need not fear, for He is with you. He holds you, cares for you, and is your great support. You are not, and never will be, forsaken. He is able, even in the midst of 'impossibilities'.

       Do not be overcome by any bad report to the point of despondency or paralyzing fear. Like Abraham, who without becoming weak in faith contemplated the true situation (that his body was as good as dead) "yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform" (Rom 4:17-22), hear the report, consider the truth of the message/the reality, but be fully assured that God can and will do what He has said He will do. Take courage; take as He gives.

And like Nehemiah at the report of ovewhelming, discouraging news, bring it before God in prayer and obey what He tells you to do. Pray and see how He may even use you. Nehemiah had no place to be of any help to the people of Jerusalem, or to be any answer to his own prayer, yet God used him as part of the solution.

Nehemiah is a 'power of one' example. He didn't just hear the bad report about the state of his people, that they were in great distress and reproach and unprotected because the walls of Jerusalem were down, and lament saying, 'It's all over and hopeless." Instead, even though he was in NO position to do anything about it (he was probably approximately a two months journey away from the problem, 600 miles away serving as cupbearer to Artazerxes), he prayed with a broken heart over the state of the people. In answer to those prayers, he eventually found himself orchestrating and overseeing the rebuilding of the broken down walls.

But that rebuilding began with a broken heart and prayer and the power of ONE heart on fire and dismayed at the conditions that God's chosen people were living in, leaving themselves is disarray and unprotected.

If your heart is currently broken over discouraging news, take the encouragement of 'the power of one' message of Nehemiah's life, who built up a team and allowed God to accomplish the impossible through them 'suddenly'. (The walls had been down 141 years, and Nehemiah and the people completed the walls in 52 days after starting the work.)

"...for The LORD is not restrained to save by many or few." 1 Samuel 14:6

Don't settle for the 'truth' of the bad report. But in prayer, seek for His truth, His direction, and watch Him use even you to 'produce change'- to bring about the change that you are tempted to even give up hope for.

 Do not be discouraged. Look to Him and see if He does not pour forth mountain moving faith.

Sun and Stars

I call forth the sun to shine  

And the stars to display their beauty, as each is revealed in the night sky.

Day and night has its own beauty.

Some beauty only revealed in the sunshine, and others only seen in the dark.

Seasons change. 

There is day and there is night,

 So that you may see different aspects of My beauty and love and grandeur.

Do not be afraid of the dark.

Darkness will come, but look up!

 Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfector of your faith.
Eyes on Me.

Though the earth should change and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, 

you need not fear.  

I am a very present help in trouble. (Ps.46:2)

 My love for you is unfailing.

 Look 'there' (at My great love for you). 
 Trust 'there', 'eyes on Me', and cling to hope. 
You will hope once again.

Great light will shine forth in darkness. 

Allow Me to shine brightly through you and dispel darkness.  It need not overtake you.

As the world cries out in essence 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling' in fear, 

My people will have a quiet confidence in Me, that I will give.  

Take it. I am your refuge and strength, but you must take it to have it.  

Cling to My Word and My Promises. 

The world is continually trying to 'make crooked the straight ways of the Lord' (Acts 13:10), but the world does not change My ways.  

No matter how many times they may change their opinion,

 My Word stands true and unchanging and CONSTANT.  

Be a lighthouse, immovable, showing THE WAY, 

warning others as they navigate dangerous waters.  

Let your light shine, showing, 'This is the ROCK, this is solid ground'  

and warning them to navigate carefully as His word is unmovable and irrevocable.  

I cause storms, and I am able to make them perfectly calm (Ps 107:25,29).  

Be those who hear and DO the Word, that your house may stand (Matt. 7:24).  

Be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in the midst of the storm. 

They will see a great light. Let it be Me. 

Shine for My glory, that they too may glorify My name.