Are you living in the little house or the Big House?

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7


The little house is the house you grew up in, but it didn’t seem little until you began to grow up. Your earthly father and mother were there, and they had the opportunity of seeing who God created you to be. It is in this little house that you were groomed and prepared for the day you would walk out the door and begin to walk in your destiny. Your father had the awesome responsibility of affirming and calling you forth into maturity before you left his house. What a wonderful day for him when he releases and blesses you! Hopefully he can hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” But if you were not blessed and affirmed, you may still be waiting for affirmation.

Your heavenly Father’s house is the Big House, and He invites you to come, enter in, and dwell with Him forever. But, first you must leave your earthly father’s house. Forgiveness is the key that releases you from the past and prepares you for your future. You may still be dwelling in a little house with a very limited perspective: all you see is the past. It is hard to even hear or see God’s great love and abundant blessings, much less believe they are for you. If you are still living in the little house, all you listen to are the same old tapes of mistakes and defeats. In the little house, you sit in the same little chair, and eat the same old stale bread. In the little house, you are bound by what others think and what they say. There are only two rooms in the little house; they are called “Fear” and “Doubt.” When you go into these two rooms, all you hear is, “I probably can’t do it,” and, “I doubt I ever will.” The choice is yours: you can move into the Big House, or be content to just stay where you are in the little house.

Embrace your full inheritance! You belong in the Big House, surrounded with all spiritual blessings. Broaden your perspective and expectations. You should be enjoying all the benefits of being an heir—a joint-heir—with Jesus Christ. Begin now carrying out your Father’s business as an heir. God is in the blessing business, and He wants His children to carry on the family business and bless others.

Many people are sixty years old and still stuck in the little house. What keeps you stuck there? If you did not hear your father say, “I love you, and I am so proud of you,” you may be stuck in the little house. The words your father said or did not say can keep you trapped in the past. When you are trapped in the past, you cannot move forward. Many people are stuck, still waiting for the words of affirmation that they never heard. They are unable to move forward by receiving His love and embracing the blessings He has prepared for them.

Even in a loving family, many times there is a void of affirmation. Instead of words that build up, words are spoken that tear down a child’s spirit. Words that tear down can have a harmful effect until they are released. Words can bind you up and shut you down and keep you from believing that God loves you and wants to bless you. When you release the words meant to tear you down and receive God’s Word, He gives you life, hope, and blessing. Then you can take your rightful place in the Big House which is your Heavenly Father’s House.

Jesus is Watching

“He shall see [the fruit] travail of His soul and be satisfied…” (Isaiah 53:11) Amp.
 

Isaiah 53:11 says that Jesus will watch and see the travail of His soul and be satisfied as He justifies many and makes them righteous.  Can you appreciate what He did for you and receive His sacrifice and the travail of His soul?  Can you receive your redemption as a gift with a grateful heart? 
 
He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.  His outward wounding was for our obvious transgressions or sins, the things we do, stepping over the line or crossing over the boundary that has been set up by God. He took the punishment that we deserve.
 
He was bruised for our iniquities. A bruise is a wound on the inside that shows up later on the outside.  An iniquity is also an internal problem that shows up on the surface later.  Iniquity is a hidden sin, possibly a habit of sin that has been in your family for generations.  The outward evidence does not show up for some time. Jesus died for obvious sins and iniquities, the hidden tendencies that you my not have even seen as sin.
 
Stop and open your heart to Jesus and ask Him to search your heart right now.  Confess all sins and sinful habits or iniquities as the Holy Spirit brings them to your attention.  As you have confessed your sins, receive His forgiveness. Jesus is watching to see who will receive His redemption. When you receive it, you will feel the peace of His satisfaction.

Discouraged and Defeated?

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.  Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.  I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah.   I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” Psalm 55:4-8

Discouragement is a real problem.  Discouraged people would rather sleep then face one more discouragement.  Why would a person get so discouraged that they would choose to just lie down and sleep?  They are tired.  Those who have graced others mistakes and sins without seeing any change, get tired.  Then discouragement, which is the opposite of encouragement, sets in.  We can not afford to go a day without encouragement.  It is water to the thirsty soul. (Ps. 107:9)

Discouragement is much like taking a nap; it seems ok, and even justified because you are tired.  But, in this day and time it is a trap of the enemy.  Don’t give in.  People who are weary many times do not recognize the enemy’s trap until they have stumbled and fallen into it.

If you have been discouraged and slumbering, wake up to the goodness of God.  You don’t want to miss out on seeing His mighty hand as He intervenes in your situation.  We are in the time in history that we must stay awake, watch, and pray. God’s hand is not too short; He will come and He will save you no matter what situation you are facing.

Instead of giving into discouragement, begin speaking the truth into the situation. Then stand back and see the salvation of the Lord.  Remember, don’t’ give in to discouragement; it is not your friend.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.  But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days.  But as for me, I trust in you. Psalm 55: 22-23.

Written by Denise Boggs

The Path of Life

“Show me the path of life…” Psalm 16:11

God knows exactly what is going on in your world. He has provided everything you need to live during these times; and actually He has provided a way for you to live in peace even during times of trouble.   Find the path of life, the peace of God.

Once you find the path of life, stay there, don’t let your heart be troubled.  Stop allowing yourself stray off the path, lost and fearful.  You have a choice; you simple stay on the path.  You have a choice daily;  so don’t allow your circumstances to be in charge.

You have been given the choice and you can choose peace over fear, anxiety, and stress.  You can choose faith over fear; it is that simple.  When you choose faith over fear you just choose life instead of death.  When you choose peace over anxiety and stress you have again chosen life.  The enemy wants to convince you that everything is hopeless, but the God of all peace wants you to know that you have a choice, He says in Deut. 30:15-16, (paraphrased) “Choose life and you shall live.”

It is a choice of life over death, it is that important of a choice. Think about your last doctor’s visit.  If you have a heart condition he made it very clear how harmful certain things like too much sugar and salt are to your health.  It is hard to keep yourself from eating these things, but, for your health’s sake you can do it.  Everyday that you overcome the temptation not to eat those things that are harming your body you feel a difference.  You feel stronger and have more energy.  Did you know that worry and fear are more harmful to our body than too much sugar and salt?  That is why Jesus said, “Stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated, cowardly and unsettled.”

I repeat, just stop allowing it; you do have a choice, choose the path of life and walk on it.  Choose the peace of Jesus daily and you shall live.

Written by Denise Boggs..

Holding On to Hope

“We who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope that has been appointed for us” (Hebrew 6:18).

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What are you hoping for?

A new job, a husband, a wife, or healing of a loved one?  Whatever you are hoping for let me encourage you to tighten your grip.  It is time to securely grab hold of whatever the Lord has promised you, don’t let it slip out of your hands and don’t give in to even the slightest disappointment.  Spend time with the Lord and this is what happens:

“We who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope that has been appointed for us” (Hebrew 6:18).

There is something God has appointed for you and when you give-in to disappointment you are in essence saying, “I no longer believe what God has appointed for me will take place.” Disappointments will cause you to let go of the hope. It is like you have been swinging on a rope across a huge cannon, and you let go of a rope right before you get to the other side. When you give in to disappointment you can feel yourself sliding down the rope and if you give in, your strength grows weary and you completely let go.

I know this is how it works I have burn marks on my hands right now from letting the rope slip through my hands. Disappointments were coming from every side. I have been so bombarded by disappointments that I gave in to them. When a friend pointed out that I was disappointed I said, “You better believe I am disappointed” and I began to give her the mile long list. Then I was troubled because I wanted her to understand all the things that disappointed me.

But, the Lord would not allow me that privilege. He lovingly said, “That is what you get when you are in kindergarten.”  Then I remembered, in kindergarten my teacher would give us a sucker when we were disappointed if it was raining outside and we couldn’t go out to play. The Lord reminded me, “You are not in kindergarten and you can not give into disappointments.” I must adjust my grip and hold on or as Paul said it in Hebrews 6:18, “hold fast to the hope that is appointed for us.” The word appointed means it has been prearranged and set before me so all I do is grab it and hold on tight for Hope is the anchor of my soul.

Written by Denise Boggs.